Sri Lanka Fuel Crisis: Doctors Demand Holiday

The Doctors Union (AMS) has formally requested the Sri Lankan government to declare Saturdays as holidays due to the ongoing fuel shortage and rising fuel prices. The union highlighted that doctors working in remote areas face long commutes multiple times a day, leading to significantly higher transportation costs.

While other government employees have received increased fuel allowances, doctors reportedly lack adequate transport compensation, causing growing dissatisfaction among medical professionals. This situation poses a risk to essential healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved regions.

To address the crisis, the union proposed immediate measures: declaring Saturdays as official holidays, revising the working week, adjusting transport allowances to reflect current fuel prices, and providing stable compensation for extra duties performed by specialized medical personnel. The union emphasized the need for urgent negotiations with authorities to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services and protect patient care during this fuel crisis.