Trade Unions Collective To Hand Over A Petition To Human Rights Commission

The  Collective Of Government,Semi Government and Private Sector Trade Unions is scheduled to hand over a human rights violation petition tomorrow(19) to the Human Rights Commission against the anti trade union policy adapted by government according to the joint convener of the collective Saman Ratnapriya.

The trade union leaders of the 43 member trade union collective are scheduled to  hand over the said  petition at 11 a.m tomorrow he has said.

Health Workers Belongs To 27 Categories Are To Be Launched A Sick Note Campaign On Friday

The Health Workers belongs to 27 grades in health sector are to be launched an Island wide sick note campaign on this Friday(21) by demanding fair solutions for their long standing five service demands according to Joint Trade Union Committee.

The health workers attach to government hospitals and health institutions including minor staff,telephone operators,attendants,lift operators,assistant medical laboratory technicians numbering more then 30,000 will be participating this sick note campaign according to trade union committee.

The five service demands produced by Joint Trade Committee  includes paying  salary arrears of  health workers,confirmation of temporary workers,increasing the rating system .the sick note campaign is due to begin 6.30 a..m on Friday and scheduled to be concluded 6.30 a.m on Saturday.

Elections Department To Remove All Unauthorzed Election Offices

The Election Department Officials will be removed all unauthorized election offices built throughout the island from 20th February according to the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya .the officials are due to begin checking all unauthorized election officers from tomorrow(17th) he has stressed.

The elections for the Western and Southern Provincial Councils are due to be held on 29th of March.

Minor Fire At New Military Headquarters

A minor fire broke out in the new military headquarters under construction at Palawatta,Battaramulla was doused by the fire brigade this evening.the fire was broke out in two buildings belongs to the military headquarters sources said.

No injuries has been reported from the incident.

Fourteen Medical Administrators Refrained From Accepting Their Annual Transfers

Around 14 out of 21 Annual Transfers given to the local Medical Administrators with effect from 01st of February  have  not  been implemented yet according to Health Ministry sources .The sources said that the main reason behind this situation is due to some administrators wants to remain in the places they are currently in .


Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake has issued a circular last week requesting  all provincial health //health institution heads to release all the transferred medical administrators without a delay .

The Dispute Between DGHS And Health Secretary Has Divided The Health Sector -GMOF

The Government Medical Officers Forum(GMOF) has complained to President Mahinda Rajapaksha that due to the heated arguments exchange between Director General Of Health Services(DGHS) Dr.Palitha Mahipala  and Health Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake during the  important health sector meetings the activities of the Health Ministry cannot be maintained as usual.due to the war between these two higher officials over the gaining of supremacy in the Ministry entire health sector has now divided in to two factions GMOF has stated in their complaint.

According to a  spokesman of GMOF if president has not intervene and settle the dispute between DGHS and Health Secretary immediately otherwise the poor patients will become the victims of this dispute as the development of the health sector will be getting paralyzed  .

Two Nursing Unions Have Turned Down The Requests To Appear Before Health Ministry Committee

Two Trade Unions representing Nurses have refused to appear and present facts  before the five member committee appointed by Ministry Of Health to investigate on  midwifery training given to nurses .The Public Services Nurses Union headed by Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero and Government Nursing Officers Union headed by Saman Rathnapriya have turned down  the  requests made by Ministry Of Health to appear before the committee headed Dr.Palitha Abeykoon it has been reported
The Public Services Nurses Union which is represented the majority of government nurses has been requested to appear before the committee on last Monday(10) and the Government Nursing Officers Union has been requested to come on this Friday(14) it has been revealed.

"As our union does not recognized the committee appointed to investigate on the midwifery training given to nurses we will not present any facts related to this issue before the committee which is not impartial' the president of Public Services Nurses Union Venerable Murththettuwe Ananda Thero has said.

Meanwhile the Government Nursing Officers Union has today(12)informed the Health Ministry through a letter that the union is not able to appear before the committee this friday.