The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has temporarily suspended its island-wide strike, which was scheduled to commence at 8.00 a.m. today (31), Sri Lanka Latest News reports.
Issuing a statement, the GMOA announced that the decision followed agreements reached during a special discussion held last night (30) between Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa — who joined the meeting via telephone — the Director General of Health Services, and representatives of the GMOA.
The association stated that the Ministry of Health had agreed to suspend the transfers of doctors, which the GMOA alleged were initiated arbitrarily and in violation of the accepted methodology. Instead, it has been agreed that transfers will be carried out according to established procedures and within a defined time frame.
It was further noted that the agreements reached will be formally confirmed during a special discussion with administrative doctors of the Ministry of Health scheduled to take place today.
Accordingly, based on these developments, the GMOA said it has decided to temporarily defer the planned strike until 12.00 noon today, pending written confirmation of the agreements during the discussions with ministry officials.
The GMOA also warned that if the agreed terms are not fulfilled, the association reserves the right to recommence trade union action at any time.
