Doctors plan Colombo protest as health workers announce islandwide action

The Government Medical Officers' Association has announced a protest outside Colombo National Hospital on November 10, with representatives from all its district branches expected to take part. The association says the action concerns several demands, including reductions to doctors' salaries and allowances.

Its assistant secretary said the union expects the upcoming Budget to offer solutions to those issues. The protest announcement is therefore tied to its requests for budget measures, rather than a report that any settlement has already been reached.

The association also said hospital operations would not be disrupted by the demonstration. That assurance comes from the union; the announcement does not report the outcome of the protest or independently assess hospital services during it.

Separately, the Joint Health Workers' Union said its members would hold protests across the island on the same day. Its general secretary said members wanted the government to address their grievances through the upcoming Budget. The two unions announced separate actions, both linked to demands ahead of the Budget.