News

Another health worker strike tomorrow!

Published

1 year ago

April 1, 2024

nipuni

Another islandwide health worker strike is planned to be held from tomorrow (April 02), leading to crippled health services

72 Trade Unions under the Health Trade Union Alliance will join the strike, calling authorities to address several grievances including the DAT issue.

In February, the government had decided to raise the DAT allowance by Rs 35,000 for doctors, which had led to health trade unions demanding a similar allowance to be extended to them as well.

However, a crucial discussion is scheduled for today (April 01), involving officials from the Finance Ministry and the outcome of this meeting is to be the final deciding factor of the impending strike.

Speaking in this regard, co-convener of the TU alliance – Chanaka Dharmawickrama has said : “It was initially decided to commence a 04-hour strike islandwide. But the Presidential Secretariat has called for a discussion today and therefore we had decided to limit this to 05 key hospitals only, namely. Kandy, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, and Badulla. However, if we do not receive a favourable solution today, we will launch an island wide strike tomorrow.”

News

“Reports of Wijepala – Nissanka meeting, fake”

Published

11 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

The Public Security Ministry has denied media reports claiming that the Public Security minister – Ananda Wijepala had met Nissanka Senadhipathi.

The Minister’s media secretary had clarified this in a letter to Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya.
Adding that the neither the Minister or a representative had ever met Senadhipathi as claimed, the letter calls for proper investigations into the fake news and legal action against those responsible.

News

Special allowance for policemen on duty at ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’

Published

15 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

A special transport allowance and a combined allowance will be provided to police personnel assigned to ensure the safety of devotees attending the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Siri Dalada Vandanawa) in Kandy, the police said.

The measure has been taken over the instructions of the Acting IGP, in consideration of the fact that these police personnel will be on continuous day and night duty for over 10 days, away from their regular stations and incurring additional personal expenses.

News

Ravi K’s Bill to repeal Online Safety Act, gazetted

Published

15 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

The Bill to repeal the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024, and other regulations concerning the Act, has been gazetted.

The Online Safety Bill was passed by a majority vote in Parliament on Jan. 24, 2024.

The Bill that has been gazetted was submitted by opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake.

On Feb. 28, 2025, MP Karunanayake submitted a private member’s Bill to the Parliament Secretary-General, aiming to repeal the controversial Online Safety Act.