June 28, Colombo: The nurses of Sri Lanka's only oncology institution, the Cancer Hospital in Maharagama, are to withdraw from providing chemotherapy once again to the resident patients from tomorrow.

Uditha Wanigasekara, media spokesperson for the Joint Union for Nurses confirmed that they will provide chemotherapy only to the outpatients and children from tomorrow.

The main reason for this union action is the failure of Health Secretary to provide an interim allowance, the nurses are demanding for more than three months.

Additionally they are demanding more secure medical instruments as well as a special training for the nurses, Wanigasekara pointed out.

This union action of the nurses in the only cancer hospital in Sri Lanka will certainly produce disastrous effects to the patients as they have no other alternate to get chemotherapy except for receiving the services from private hospitals at a higher cost.