Paramedics call off strike

Lakshmi DE SILVA

The joint trade union council of paramedics in the public health service decided yesterday to call off their proposed strike that was to take place today Council's president Ravi Kumudesh told the Daily News yesterday.

"Nearly 70 percent of our demands were granted after we held discussions with the health authorities and most probably there would not be a strike action today in hospitals as planned," Ravi Kumudesh said

We had discussions with the Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage and Director General Ajith Mendis for nearly four hours yesterday and most of the demands were won and I think the rest would also be granted since these problems were not solved for the past twelve years but could be solved by the Ministry officials, Kumudesh said.

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry in a press release yesterday also said there were talks between the unions and Ministry officials and the strike had been called off and it would be decided whether the talks would continue today too.