Defying anti-strike laws, 30,000 Sri Lankan nurses hold two-

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.

Related Keywords

Sri Lanka , Puttalam , North Western , Peradeniya , Central , Matara , Southern , Sri Lankan , Ceylon , Samagi Jana Balawegaya , Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna , Gotabhaya Rajapakse , Pavithra Wanniarachchi , Saman Rathnapriya , Mahinda Rajapakse , Public Services United Nurses Union , Equality Party , Health Employees Trade Union , Ceylon Nurse Union , President Gotabhaya Rajapakse , Government Nursing Officer Association , All Ceylon Nurse Union , Health Employees Trade Union Collective , Health Minister Pavithra , President Rajapakse , Muruththetuwe Ananda , Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse , Government Medical Officer Association , Socialist Equality Party , Personal Protective Equipment , ஸ்ரீ லங்கா , வடக்கு மேற்கு , மைய , மாதாரா , தெற்கு , ஸ்ரீ லங்கன் , சிஇஒய்எல்ஓஎன் , பொது சேவைகள் ஒன்றுபட்டது செவிலியர்கள் தொழிற்சங்கம் , சமத்துவம் கட்சி , அரசு நர்சிங் அதிகாரி சங்கம் , ஆரோக்கியம் அமைச்சர் பவித்ரா , அரசு மருத்துவ அதிகாரி சங்கம் , சோசலிஸ்ட் சமத்துவம் கட்சி , தனிப்பட்ட ப்ரொடெக்டிவ் உபகரணங்கள் ,