Nurses in the South on strike over non-payment of overtime

COLOMBO (News 1st): Nurses attached to several hospitals in the Southern Province have refrained from services since 7 am on Monday (June 15), officials said. According to the Government Nursing Officers' Association, nurses attached to all hospitals in the Hambantota district and Kamburupitiya hospital in the Matara district will refrain from services from 7 am to 12 noon today. They are staging the strike action over the non-payment of overtime allowances. "The nurses have refrained from services due to the non-payment of overtime and off-day allowances," told Dr. Chandima Sirithunga - Southern Provincial Health Director, News 1st on Monday. However, according to Dr. Sirithunga, allowances for March was paid with the monthly salary of May. According to the Southern Provincial Health Ministry, overtime and off-day allowances for April will be added to the monthly salary of June.