Haritha Aluthge: Latest News

Colombo (News 1st) – Sri Lanka is likely to be rocked by severe strike actions in many crucial sectors nationwide which will bring the country to a standstill, as the public buckles under the financial strain of multiple price hikes and heavy taxation.The Professionals Trade Union Collective and several other trade unions representing government and semi-government sectors have planned to launch trade union actions from Monday, March 13. More than 40 trade unions including health, education, water, electricity, nurses, teachers, government and semi-government sectors have expressed their support.Trade unions said one of the main reasons for the trade union action is the failure to provide solutions to the burdens caused by the unfair tax policy, while salaries have not been increased and the economic crisis continues.Through the protests, the trade unions will also highlight several other matters including skyrocketing interest rates and issues related to salaries and increments.Dr.

Sri Lanka on Friday approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19 amid warnings from doctors that front-line health workers should be quickly inoculated to stop the system from collapsing.Minister for Pharmaceutical Production and Regulation Channa Jayasumana said the British vaccine has been approved for emergency use, the first in Sri Lanka, while several other candidates are in the pipeline at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority.It is unknown when Sri Lanka will be getting the vaccine.“Hundreds of health care workers have tested positive in several hospitals. When you have one positive case, about 10 health workers will need to be sent to quarantine.