Health volunteers suspend hunger protest

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 April 2005, 14:50 GMT]
Fifty-three health volunteers working in several government medical institutions in Kalkuda electorate in the Batticaloa district suspended their hunger protest Saturday on an assurance by the Provincial Governor Mr.Tyronne Fernando that they would be made permanent before the end of June this year. These volunteers began their protest Wednesday in front of the office of the Provincial Ministry of Health demanding their permanency, sources said.

Health volunteers decided to suspend their protest following a two and a half hour meeting with the Governor Friday at latter's secretariat. Provincial health ministry officials and a five-member delegation of the health volunteers attended the discussion, sources said.

Mr.Tyronne Fernando assured the delegation that they would be made permanent in due course. But the health workers' delegation insisted that they would suspend their trade union action if the Governor gives a deadline to keep his promise. Thereafter in the presence of health department officials the Governor assured that they would be made permanent before the end of June this year, volunteers' delegation said in a press release issued Saturday.