Jan 11, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today held a meeting with the trade union representatives of the powerful Government Medical Officers association and government officials at the Temple Trees to discuss problem faced by the medical doctors.

During the meeting President stated that he would agree on the demand for increasing transport allowance to the doctors. He said that doctors’ demand to increase the transport allowance is justifiable since the allowance has not increased since 1994.

President instructed the officials of salary commission and Ministry of Finance to study the salary structures of all health employees in government sector and to offer them with a compensation scheme that offers the maximum benefits.

President Rajapaksa also pointed out that Sri Lanka is the country that has the highest proportion of government servants in the world. He said that every one of six persons works for the government and people spend large sum of money to pay salaries for the 1.1 million government employees.

Government’s policy for medicines was also discussed during the meeting and the trade union assured its fullest support to the independent pharmaceutical policy introduced by Senaka Bibile. The President gave instructions to the Health Ministry officials to implement the policy as soon as possible.