News
GMOA strike continues
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The countrywide strike launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) entered the second day yesterday. Discussions with the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, and GMOA representatives have failed.
GMOA Executive Committee member, Dr. Prasad Colambage said that they would continue their union action until their demands were met.
“We had meetings with senior Ministry officials. They, too, consider our demands fair. They will discuss with the Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, and get back to us,” he said.
GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said that they had held a token strike on Monday as the post-internship appointments had been made by the Ministry of Health arbitrarily.
“On Monday, the Central Committee of the GMOA met and decided that the transfers of specialist doctors and grade doctors had been effected without following the correct procedure. The 2022 annual transfer list hasn’t even been published yet and the various issues created during the time of Rajitha Senaratne have not been addressed, despite a Cabinet decision,” he said.
However, doctors attached to accident wards, paediatric hospitals, maternity wards, cancer and CKDu hospitals will continue to work. COVID vaccination and other affiliated services, too, will continue, Dr.Fernando said.
The Ministry of Health claimed that the strike had greatly inconvenienced the people.
President of the Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) Dr. Rukshan Bellana said that the GMOA had taken union action in a bid to attract post interns to become its members.
“They want to convince the young doctors that they are calling all the shots. The poor people are suffering because of this needless action,” he said.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported yesterday that 211 people had gone missing following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The disaster has left 639 individuals dead, and 84,674 people from 26,563 families are sheltered in 866 safety centres across the country.
The DMC also confirmed extensive damage to houses. It said about 5,588 had been destroyed and 102,246 others damaged.
Authorities continue to coordinate relief efforts as they assess the full scale of the destruction and work to provide shelter and aid to thousands of displaced persons.
by Chaminda Silva
The government has decided to convene Parliament on 18 December to secure legislative approval for emergency funding for disaster relief.
The special session has been called to allocate funds for relief efforts for those affected by Cyclone Ditwah and for repairs to infrastructure and property damaged by the severe weather.
Officials said the government would submit a supplementary estimate seeking parliamentary approval for the required funds.
A debate will be conducted before the estimate is endorsed by the House.
Parliament adjourned until 06 January, 2026, following the passage of Budget 2026.
by Akitha Perera
The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has urged the public to avoid non-essential travel this weekend. It has done so in response to numerous phone inquiries from people planning leisure trips.
Red alerts remain in effect for 33 Divisional Secretariat areas across four districts due to landslides, following heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm in recent days in the Badulla and Kandy districts.
“Landslides were reported on Thursday (11) in Meegahakivula and Demodara,” said Dr. Vasantha Senadeera, Senior Geologist at NBRO.
“The public should remain vigilant, monitor weather forecasts closely, and follow Stage 2 warnings carefully.”
Stage 1 alerts remain active for 17 divisions across three districts, while Level 3 warnings and red alerts cover Kandy, Kurunegala, and Matale districts. Level 2 warnings apply to Badulla, Kegalle, Kurunegala (Polgahawela and Alawwa), Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura, while Level 1 warnings and yellow alerts advise caution in certain areas of Gampaha, Kurunegala, and Ratnapura.
Dr. Senadeera emphasized that, given the ongoing disaster situation, people should reconsider weekend trips and stay indoors wherever possible. “We have received several calls asking whether it is safe to travel,” he said. “The answer is to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary movement in high-risk areas.”
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon and Sujeewa Thathsara
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Why Sri Lanka Still Has No Doppler Radar – and Who Should Be Held Accountable
Public urged to avoid non-essential travel in disaster-prone areas
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