Sri Lanka’s entire public health system is on edge as more than 23,000 doctors accuse the government of betrayal, arrogance, and deliberate neglect, warning that patients will ultimately pay the price.
Press Release
The Government Medical Officers Association has initiated a series of island-wide trade union actions. The main reasons for this are the following issues of the doctors:
- To obtain approval for the Cabinet paper drafted with the participation and agreement of all parties to create a special service category called “Sri Lanka Medical Service” by including doctors of all categories and to take further action.
- Updating the DAT allowance of doctors
- Resolving transportation issues in accordance with Circular 22/99
- Making the additional duty allowance a fixed allowance
- Resolving the issues of the research allowance
- Updating the number of approved doctors (Cadre Revision)
- Initiating discussions with the Ministry of Finance from 2026.01.05 to resolve the above issues within a defined time frame
The written agreement given by the Minister of Health to provide solutions to these issues has now been violated. Due to this, more than 23,000 doctors in the public service are expressing their strong displeasure and concern regarding this decision, represented by the Government Medical Officers’ Association.
Meanwhile, the Association strongly condemns the statement made by the Deputy Minister of Health to the media that the government is unable to respond to the problems of doctors, as well as the statement regarding the use of minimum force against doctors. Specialists represented by the Government Medical Officers’ Association, which includes a majority of specialists, have been waiting for a long time for the government to resolve their transportation issues. Given the current situation, they are now questioning whether the government has any genuine interest in addressing these concerns.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association expresses its strong displeasure and regret over the government’s arrogant behavior, its failure to intervene to resolve the problems faced by doctors, and its continued disregard for medical professionals.
The lack of proper solutions to the problems of specialists and doctors, who lead Sri Lanka’s free health service and form the backbone of the country, is causing a regression of the national health system. The ultimate victims of this situation are the patients themselves.
Therefore, doctors representing all branch associations of the Government Medical Officers’ Association across the island are scheduled to convene a Central Committee meeting at the Government Medical Officers’ Association headquarters tomorrow, 28.01.2026, to discuss the government’s arrogant conduct and its lack of seriousness in providing proper solutions, and to decide on future trade union actions.
