News
Health sector TUs to resume strike
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Health workers, except doctors, in the North-Central province are scheduled to resume trade union action today (09), demanding that they also be given the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance, which only doctors are entitled to at present.
President of the Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine, Ravi Kumudesh told The Island that 72 health sector unions had launched trade union action four times, from January, since the government increased the DAT allowance only for doctors.
He said the government had agreed to increase their salaries a few months back and the Cabinet, too, had consented to do so on a staggered basis.
However, there are serious problems with the above Cabinet paper, Kumudesh said.
“The salary increase has not been approved for all categories of workers in the health sector.”
As the government had not carried out its pledge, the health sector trade unions were left with no alternative but to resume their trade union action, Kumudesh said.
“Instead of launching an all-island strike, we have decided to resort to trade union action on a staggered basis so that the government will have ample time to keep its promises.”
Kumudesh said if the government did not redress their grievances, health workers in the Central Province would go on strike. Health workers in Sabaragamuwa, Wayamba, and South will join the strike on 14, 15, and 16 May respectively.
“Health workers in Uva will join the strike on 20 May. On the 21st, health workers will launch a countrywide strike,” he said.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
The Situation Report released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) at 6:00 AM today (13th December 2025) confirms that 640 persons have died and another 211 persons are missing due to flooding and landslides that took place in Sri Lanka within the past two weeks.
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