May 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Health Nimal Siripala de Silva will have a discussion with the directors of all government hospitals tomorrow about the problems arisen with the trade union action against the finger impression attendance recording machines.

The Minister who has decided to be tough about the new attendance recording system sending a special message to the Ministry stated that as the trade union had accepted that some workers obtain overtime claims illegally, the people who are against the finger impression machines are the thieves.

He further emphasized that since there are some 190,000 health workers, a proper organization, fiscal management and administration is necessary.

The paralyzing two day token strike by the health workers of Marxist People’s Liberation Front (JVP) led All Lanka Health Workers’ Union (ALHWU) against introduction of finger printing machines to record attendance was stopped temporarily with the promise from the Deputy Minister of Health Jayaratna Herath to have a discussion with the Minister of Health Nimal Siripala de Silva next week.

The Deputy General Secretary of the ALHWU, Gamini Kumarasinghe said that an all island strike would be the next action if the Minister would not order the removal of the new regulation.

The Ministry of Health issuing a statement said that the two billion rupee overtime expenses of the Health Ministry could be cut off one third with the introduction of finger impression machines.