Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health today decided to terminated the employment of substitute health workers who are supporting a strike launched by a minor staff union at the Colombo National Hospital.
The Ministry said the substitute health workers who failed to report for duties by the today's deadline have been terminated. The employees who reported for work but refrained from the duties were also considered as vacated their posts.
The Ministry issued an ultimatum yesterday to the employees yesterday that if they fail to report to work today they will be considered as resigned from their duties.
Tense situation occurred when the Senior DIG Anura Senanayake arrived at the hospital grounds to remove the terminated employees from the premises.
Employees belonged to the All Island Health Services Union launched the strike three days ago to protest the transfer of the union's chairman D. S. Somarathne after a disciplinary inquiry by the Public Services Commission.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Nihal Jayathilake said the Public Service Commission investigated a misconduct the employee committed two years ago and the Ministry has no power to change the Commission's disciplinary action. The transfer will take place regardless union action, he said.
Meanwhile, some hospital services were affected by the strike today inconveniencing the public.
The authorities deployed Sri Lanka Army soldiers to the hospital to cover the minor duties interrupted by the strike
Responding to a request made by the Maradana Police yesterday, Maligakanda Magistrate L Liyanarachchi ordered the trade union to refrain from courses of action that would inconvenience patients.
The trade union accused the government of attempting to suppress the union action and said the strike will continue.
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