Dec 02, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government says that it has met a number of demands put forward by trade unions of state sector nurses.

The Health Ministry issuing a communiqu&233; yesterday said that the Treasury has given its consent for majority of demands put forward by the nurses' service.

The Government Nursing Officers Association (GNOA) said that it would launch an island wide strike action if authorities failed to grant their demands.

The union has put forward six demands including an increase in overtime payment and risk allowance, recruitment of graduate nurses to the public sector, and a five-day work week.

The Ministry said that 5 demands were approved during the discussion held with states services united nurses union and the relevant officials.

The Treasury has granted approval for 5 demands including implementing periodic amendments to the nursing service constitution, increasing the risk allowance paid to nurses, implementing a rate system with regard to overtime payments, and upgrading the nurses' training school in Colombo to the status of a university.

Treasury Secretary Dr. P B Jayasundera has informed the Health Ministry in writing to issue the relevant circulars within 2 weeks.