By Shamindra Ferdinando

Pivuthu Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila, MP, yesterday (16) insisted that health sector trade union coalition’s demand for Rs 35,000 allowance shouldn’t be granted under any circumstances.

The former Power and Energy Minister said that those trade unions should realise that their demand for Rs 35,000 allowance because the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance given to doctors had been increased by that amount couldn’t be accepted. With the increase doctors receive Rs 70,000 DAT allowance.

The Colombo District lawmaker told The Island that he expected political parties to take a right stand on this matter as they shouldn’t encourage those seeking to cause chaos.

The coalition, consisting of 72 trade unions, on Monday (15), announced an indefinite strike unless the government gave in to their demand.

Addressing the media at the PHU office, at Etul Kotte, MP Gammanpila said that though his stand wouldn’t be appealing to many but that was the truth. The former JHU stalwart said that political parties shouldn’t seek political advantage but act collectively to address the issue at hand.

Udaya Gammanpila and National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa were sacked, in early 2022, by then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over their opposition to the Yugadanavi agreement that was concluded in the dead of the night with the US-based energy company.

Pointing out the growing demand for Sri Lankan doctors in the UK and other Commonwealth countries, lawmaker Gammanpila said that grievances of doctors should be addressed. The ex-Minister said that those bent on securing employment overseas wouldn’t stay back due to the increase in DAT allowance but the governemnt effort to address their concerns should be appreciated.

MP Gammanpila warned of dire consequences if the increase in DAT allowance is granted to the entire health sector. PHU leader said that if the government succumbed to trade unionists, all sectors would demand the same and that could cause quite a crisis.

MP Gammanpila said that a new law should be enacted to compel doctors passing out from state universities to serve the public sector for 10 years. Claiming that the country spent as much as Rs 5 mn to produce a doctor, the MP said that legal measures were required to obtain their services as some sought overseas employment immediately after passing out of state medical faculties here.

The lawmaker also conceded that exodus of doctors couldn’t be halted by increasing the DAT allowance.

Responding to another query, MP Gammanpila said that the country was in such a precarious situation it wouldn’t be fair by the people for political parties and trade unions to seek undue advantage over the DAT issue.