Health professionals have launched a 24 hour token strike protesting against reduction of their allowances, crippling services at state hospitals.
Unions related to health professional services announced their decision to strike after talks with the Treasury officials failed yesterday (March 17).
Accordingly, the Federation of Health Professionals stated that the strike would be in effect from 7 a.m. today across all hospitals island-wide.
Seven trade unions have expressed their support. However, Chalith Amaradiwakara, the Co-Convenor of the Joint Federation of Paramedic Professionals, has deemed the strike unjustified.
Postal TUs also on strike Meanwhile, the Joint Postal Trade Union Front has confirmed that its ongoing postal workers’ strike will continue today, as negotiations remain unresolved.
Co-Convenor of the association Chinthaka Bandara stated that since the strike began the day before yesterday, more than one million mails and parcels have accumulated in post offices across the country.
However, Jagath Mahinda, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Postal Services Association, has claimed that the strike has been largely unsuccessful.
The National Consumers’ Front (NCF) Chairman Asela Sampath has called on the Government to impose a controlled price on surgical masks and sanitisers, warning of a potential health crisis.
He said this during a media briefing.
Pointing out that the current price of a surgical face mask has increased to Rs. 50, he urged it to be reduced to Rs.10.
Although manufacturers have cited increased costs of raw materials as the reason, Sampath has emphasised that it is the responsibility of the government to intervene immediately.
“If the government does not reduce the prices of raw materials used to produce these essential items, the public will be forced to stop using them risking the onset of another pandemic-like disaster,” he warned.
The National Police Commission has approved a series of immediate transfers and appointments affecting several senior police officers.
Senior Superintendent Of Police M.S. Mohan Lal has been appointed as the Director of Investigations at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). He currently serves as CIABOC. He previously served as the SSP in charge of the Financial Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The list of transfers and appointments is as follows:
Senior Superintendent of Police M.S. Mohanlal – From the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, as Director (Investigations) of that Commission
Superintendent of Police A.S.K. Bandara – from Ampara Division to the Criminal Investigation Department
Assistant Superintendent of Police W.T. Anuranga – from Mount Lavinia Division to the Criminal Investigation Department
Assistant Superintendent of Police B.L.A. Prasanna – from Elpitiya Division to Nugegoda Division
Assistant Superintendent of Police M.D.P. Deepthi Kumara – From Nugegoda Division to Elpitiya Division
Chief Inspector of Police J.D.D.C. Jayakody – from the post of OIC of Balangoda Police to Badulla Division for general duties.
Chief Inspector of Police W.D.K.C. Navaratne – to perform duties as OIC of Balangoda Police Station from Colombo Central Division.
Chief Inspector of Police R.P.C.U. Rajapaksa – to perform the duties of the post of OIC of the Udawalawe Police Station from the Human Resources Management Division.
Chief Inspector of Police B.P.L. Fernando – transferred from the post of Inspector of Police, Gampola Headquarters to Batticaloa Division for general duties.
Chief Inspector of Police K.M.D.N.D. Kangara – From the post of OIC of Delft Police to the post of Inspector of Police, Gampola Headquarters
Chief Inspector of Police K.W.C.N. Abeynarayana – from the post of OIC of Ankumbura Police to the post of OIC of Delft Police
Chief Inspector of Police S.S.K.Rathnayake – To perform the duties of the post of OIC of Ankumbura Police from Matale Division
Chief Inspector of Police D.G.S. Wijesinghe – transferred from the post of OIC of Nawa Kurunduwatta Police to Gampaha Division for general duties
Police Inspector M.H.N. Tharaka – As OIC of Poovarasankulam Police from the post of OIC of Bemmulla Police
Inspector of Police S.M.N.N. Siripathi – As OIC of Bemmulla Police Station from Negombo Division
The Ministry of Public Security plans to recruit 10,000 individuals under the age of 45 who have legally retired from active military service into the police force.
Public Security Minister – Ananda Wijepala announced this during the opening of the Thambutthegama Superintendent of Police office.
He had stated that a Cabinet Paper seeking approval to recruit these ex-military personnel for a 05 year period will be submitted to the Cabinet today (June 09).
Meanwhile, he also revealed that approximately 7,880 children have been identified as being at risk of drug abuse.
