A large number of health workers staged protests in front of the hospitals this afternoon (27) against the suspension of the COVID19-risk allowance and the failure to address their other professional issues.

The protests were held in front of the Colombo National Hospital, Colombo National Eye Hospital, Children 's Hospital and other hospitals island wide.

Protesters also called for solutions to the problems related to substitute health workers.

The unions said they had communicated their grievances clearly to Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella but the government did not seem willing to resolve their issues.

They have also warned that they will pursue further trade union actions in the absence of meaningful solutions to their demands.