Leading News from Sri Lanka::

* Sri Lankan state doctors decide to continue strike indefinitely despite patients' grievances, government promises tough action

Thu, Jun 22, 2017, 10:24 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

June 22, Colombo: Sri Lanka's government doctors have decided to continue indefinitely their unannounced island wide strike commenced Thursday despite the protests by patients seeking treatment at government hospitals.

The state doctors' trade union Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) commenced the strike Thursday morning without prior warning to protest yesterday's police action against the protesting university students who forcibly entered the Ministry of Health building and inflicted heavy damage to the Ministry premises.

Public as well as government politicians of both political parties have condemned the doctors' inconsiderate action pointing out that the protest staged by the students causing damages to public property while enjoying the privileges of free education at the tax payer's expense should be condemned.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne strongly condemning the GMOA's lightning countrywide strike said the government is ready to take stern action against the striking doctors.

Addressing a media briefing the Health Minister said people as well as government officials and other trade union leaders condemned the actions of the GMOA when there was an increase of dengue patients.

He pointed out that the university students caused heavy damages to the Health Ministry amounting to millions of rupees but the injured students are receiving treatments from the hospitals that are under the Health Ministry and the doctors are paid by the same Ministry that they are striking against.

He said the GMOA launched the token strike this morning to make way for its members from rural areas to represent the GMOA Executive Council meeting at noon today in Colombo.