August 20, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union has announced a nationwide suspension of dengue prevention and control activities from today (20), in protest against the transfer of a senior Medical Officer of Health attached to the Health Office at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.
The union says the transfer of the most senior MOH at the airport health office was carried out arbitrarily, prompting the organisation to take industrial action.
PHI Union General Secretary Chamil Muthukuda told the media that the decision was approved at an emergency meeting of the union’s executive committee held last night.
The union has also announced plans for an island-wide token strike tomorrow (21), signalling a further escalation of the dispute if its concerns are not addressed.
The industrial action comes as dengue prevention remains an important public health responsibility, with PHIs playing a key role in monitoring and controlling mosquito breeding sites and supporting community-level disease prevention efforts.
Union officials are expected to press the authorities for a review of the disputed transfer, while the planned strike could put additional pressure on the Government to resolve the matter swiftly.
