TU activities make health sector sick

Nadira Gunatilleke

Sri Lanka is the only country where every 18 schoolchildren have one teacher and the people have a free healthcare service.

Unfortunately now the health sector is infected with disastrous trade union activities which made the health sector sick, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

He was addressing a gathering after distributing school books, dry rations and other needs among 360 families affected by the recent floods in the Badulla district.

He said there are 16,000 doctors and 25,000 nurses in the health service and the education sector records the second largest staff in the country.

“According to the 2008 Budget, the Government has allocated Rs. 1,200 billion for the health sector and another Rs. 850 billion for the education sector. A major part of the national income is spent on the salaries of workers,” he said.