Jan 13, Colombo: A trade union affiliated to Sri Lanka's health sector alleges that there's a move by the government to privatize the country's health sector.

The All Ceylon Health Services Union states that heart surgeries have been disrupted in three main hospitals due to a breakdown of facilities.

Secretary of the union, Gamini Kumarasinghe said that the government has not provided adequate facilities to these hospitals according to a systematic plan by the government to privatize the health service.

He has pointed out that the lack of facilities at the Colombo National Hospital, Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital and Karapitiya Teaching Hospital has forced patients needing emergency surgery to turn to private hospitals.

According to Kumarasinghe, heart surgeries at private hospitals costs around Rs. 1 million.

The union notes that the government has welcomed the opening of private hospitals in the country and at the same time was reducing the facilities provided to state hospitals.