Oct 22, Colombo: Media spokesman of Sri Lanka Government Medical Officers' Association Dr. Navin de Soyza said that the powerful doctors' union today had decided to launch a strike demanding a salary increase.

The decision to launch an island wide strike demanding a salary hike of 30 percent was taken at the GMOA executive committee meeting held on October 22, Dr. de Soyza said.

Expressing a contrary view on the proposed salary increase for the university lecturers, GMOA Spokesman said at the beginning of the month that the salaries of government employees should be increased according to the National Wage Policy, and that apart from that no section employed by the state should be provided with a special wage hike.

Dr. Soysa had further stressed that if the government in any manner increase the wages of state employees in violation of the 2006/6 circular, the Government Medical Officers' Association would decide to launch trade union action.