Oct 25, Colombo: Sri Lanka's powerful doctors' trade union, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today launched a 24-hour token strike at state-run hospitals despite a request from the Ministry of Health not to engage in strike action as the government is taking measures to resolve their demands.

The token strike demanding the government to resolve their salary issues started Thursday at 8 a.m. and it is due to conclude at 8 a.m. tomorrow, the GMOA said.

The Ministry said the Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera has agreed to meet with the trade union, Thursday to discuss the salary issue and requested all the doctors to report to work tomorrow.

Additional Secretary of GMOA Dr. Nalin Ariyaratne said that the discussions held today with the officials of the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry were positive.

The token strike has meanwhile, paralyzed the daily activities at several hospitals inconveniencing the public island wide.