Services hit hard by medical, railway strikes

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 December 1999, 19:53 GMT]
A number of essential services have been badly affected by widespread strikes launched by the Government Medical Officiers' Association and Sri Lankan railway workers.

The deserted Maradana railway station in Colombo, 17 December 1999.Photo:TamilNet

Technical officers attached to the Railway Department have stopped work for two days this week. Though their strike ended on Thursday noon, normal train services could not resume because of the strike by the engine drivers.

Drivers continued their strike for the third day, ending it today.

Due to the disruption of train services, the supply of kerosene and other essential items has been affected.

The deserted Out Patients Department of the Colombo National Hospital, 17 December 1999.Photo:TamilNet

Doctors are continuing their strike for the fifth day, today, said GMOA sources.

All essential services in the Colombo National hospital have come to a standstill. Only wounded soldiers being brought in from the northern battlefields are being attended to, said sources.

Of over 3200 patients warded in the hospital 1800 have left, the sources said.

The GMOA said they would stop all essential services in Badulla and Anuradhapura hospitals from Saturday.

All essential services in Kurunagala and Ratnapura have been disrupted as of today, said sources.

Accident Ward of the Colombo National Hospital., 17 December 1999.Photo:TamilNet