Defying anti-strike laws, 30,000 Sri Lankan nurses hold two-day sicknote protest
Health workers protest in Ampara on June 11 [Source: Facebook]
Apart from those involved in special services, including for treating children, cancer and COVID-19 patients, and for emergency and intensive care units, over 30,000 nurses from the 38,000-strong workforce were involved in the industrial action.
Strikes or any other form of industrial action or protest is a punishable criminal offence, under the government’s “Essential Services” Act. Anyone who breaks this law faces between two to five years’ imprisonment, and/or fines of 2,000 to 5,000 rupees. While the law affects nearly one million public sector workers, not a single Sri Lankan union, including those in the health sector, has opposed these anti-democratic measures.