Hospital services crippled as doctors go on strike against tax policy

by Staff Writer 13-03-2023 | 10:24 AM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Government hospital waiting rooms were empty on Monday (13) morning as patients were turned back due to a strike launched by the Government Medical Officers' Association against the government's new tax regime.

Doctors across four provinces in Sri Lanka, namely the Western, Southern, Central, and Eastern provinces, went on strike with effect from 8 AM against the government's tax policy.

The Professionals Trade Union Collective is spearheading the trade union action, and it is supported by at least forty Government and Semi-Government trade unions against the government's new tax regime, the bank interest rate hike, salary and wage anomalies, and several other demands.

The Colombo National Hospital was the worst affected, as only emergency services were in operation while all other services were crippled by the strike.