Thera assures no strike by nurses

Nadira Gunatilleke

President of the Rajyaseva Eksath Heda Sangamaya Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera has promised Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva that his members would not take part in the strike called by certain parties on July 10, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said the Ven.Thera had stated that he will terminate the membership of all members who take part in the strike.

According to the Thera his trade union has over 90 percent of nurses in the State sector and there is no possibility of hospital services being interrupted without the support of his trade union.

Several trade unions have already informed the ministry that they will not take part in the strike.

They are the Sri Lanka Free Health Workers Union, Health Service Drivers Union, Store Keepers Union, Health Service Management Assistants Union, Family Health Workers Union, State Pharmacists Union.

The ministry has already made arrangements to carry out services uninterrupted with the assistance of Hospital Development Committees and the public.