COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) launched an islandwide strike from 8 AM on Tuesday (21).

According to GMOA spokesperson Dr. Samantha Ananda, the strike action is carried based on 07 demands.

” All essential and emergency services, as well as children’s, maternity, cancer, and kidney units, will be in operation without any hindrance, however, there will be a breakdown in other hospitals and services,” Dr. Ananda said.

Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr. G. Wijesuriya speaking on the topic said, no prior notice has been issued to any of the authorities including the Director-General of Health Services, or himself regarding an islandwide doctors strike.

He noted even though there is no excess workforce, doctors have been assigned to the relevant areas.

” We kindly urge the doctors not to engage in the strike during these trying times of a pandemic and economic hardship because the general public will be highly affected and we are deeply saddened ” Dr. Wijesuriya said.

Meanwhile, the GMOA launched a 24-hour token strike yesterday (20) across 05 districts in the country.

Operations at hospitals in Mannar, Trincomalee, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, and Polonnaruwa were hampered as a result of the strike.

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