Health Minister wants 3,000 casual employees made permanent

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has ordered Ministry Secretary Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage to make 3,000 casual employees permanent in appreciation of their support to carry out uninterrupted health services during strikes, a ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said the 3,000 casual employees have been working as substitute and sanitary workers in main hospitals under the purview of the ministry, Provincial and District Health offices and other state health institutions since 2005.

These workers did not support any strikes and extended their fullest support to carry on an uninterrupted health service during strikes by trade unions in the past. The Trade Union of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party had requested Minister Silva to make them permanent, he said.