New deadline February 13

Threatened health strike:

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Seventy two health sector trade unions, demanding the government to increase their salaries using the same formula that was used to raise the salaries of doctors, yesterday (06) decided to postpone their threatened crippling union action over the issue till 13 February, President of the Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine, Ravi Kumudesh told The Island.

The decision was taken following discussions with Finance Ministry officials yesterday to resolve the matter, he said.

“The Finance Ministry officials had met President Ranil Wickremesinghe before meeting us. They said that they accept that the health sector professionals face legitimate issues. They told us that the government is facing a shortage of funding. However, the President has appointed a committee to find funds to solve our problems. This committee is to meet on 12 February,” he said.