Oct 24, Colombo: The Health Ministry of Sri Lanka today requested the country's doctors to refrain from engaging in strike action as the government is taking measures to resolve their salary issues.

The Ministry said that the Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera has agreed to meet with the trade union of the doctors, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), Thursday to discuss the salary issue and requested all the doctors to report to work tomorrow.

In response to the request by the Ministry, the GMOA has put off holding the 24 hour token strike that was scheduled to hold from 8 am tomorrow (October 25).

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

If the government in any manner increases the wages of state employees in violation of the 2006/6 circular, the GMOA would launch a trade union action, he said.