Sri Lanka's Government Pharmacists' Association has announced a one-day strike on August 31 to protest the cancellation of a circular that renamed their overtime allowance to 'additional service allowance.' The Association claims the decision was reversed due to pressure from the medical services sector.
The Society of Government Pharmacists will commence a one-day trade union action beginning at 8:00 a.m. on August 31, in response to unresolved grievances concerning their compensation structure. The dispute centers on a circular issued by the Health Secretary on August 29 that officially renamed pharmacists' overtime allowance as an "additional service allowance," a change the Association supported.
According to Association President Ajith P. Thilakaratne, the circular was subsequently cancelled without proper justification. The Association claims the reversal occurred following pressure from the medical services sector. To date, authorities have not provided an acceptable explanation or alternative resolution to address the pharmacists' concerns, prompting the decision to proceed with industrial action.
The Association has implemented measures to minimize disruption to healthcare services. Maternity and children's hospitals, cancer hospitals, and mental health institutions will be fully exempted from the strike on humanitarian grounds. At other hospitals, special arrangements have been established to maintain emergency and essential services, with chief pharmacists coordinating with hospital directors to ensure continuity of care.
Thilakaratne stated that relevant authorities have been notified to take necessary steps to reduce public inconvenience during the action. The Association has made clear that the strike will proceed unless the cancelled circular is reinstated, signaling the issue remains unresolved despite ongoing discussions.
