The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stated that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to resolve the ongoing issues regarding the reduction of doctors’ additional duty and holiday allowances.
GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa said that the association’s Executive Council had formally conveyed the concerns of medical professionals to the President, highlighting the financial impact of recent allowance reductions.
Dr. Sugathadasa noted that the association expressed gratitude to the government for addressing salary anomalies through an increase in the basic salary of public sector employees, including doctors, in the latest budget.
“We informed the President about the reduction of the additional duty allowance, which has changed from 80/1 to 120/1, and the holiday allowance, which was reduced from 20/1 to 30/1 per day. These reductions have created an unfair burden on doctors and specialists. We have requested that these values be corrected, recognizing the sacrifices made by doctors who continue to serve in Sri Lanka. The President assured us that discussions will be held to resolve these issues, and we will be informed of the outcomes,” he said.
Dr. Sugathadasa further stated that the GMOA also presented several additional requests, including:
- Updating the DAT (Disturbance, Availability, and Transport) allowance to address transportation challenges faced by doctors.
- Revising allowances for doctors working in border areas.
- Increasing the living expenses allowance for specialist trainees studying abroad.
- Expanding opportunities for medical postgraduate education.
- Addressing discrepancies in the medical grading system.
- Reissuing vehicle licenses for medical professionals.
The GMOA emphasized that it expects swift action on these concerns and will continue engaging with the government to ensure fair treatment and improved conditions for doctors in Sri Lanka.
