The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney‑at‑Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity under the Votes of the Ministries of Health and Mass Media.

¶ 02 First, our gratitude to all health personnel—doctors, nurses, health support staff, Ayurveda, homeopathy, and traditional medicine practitioners. Any success we see in our health sector is due to their dedication, beyond whatever funds Governments allocate.

¶ 03 Second, the Minister recently clarified salary increases for doctors and nurses. We appreciate the raises, structured through 2027. Yet core issues remain, as raised by the Government Medical Officers’ Association and the Government Nursing Officers’ Association. There are over 22 doctors and specialists in this House—unprecedented.

¶ 04 The key issue is allowances. Compared to ordinary public servants who typically work five days, doctors generally work six, with greater burdens. We do not need to lecture the doctors present—but we must resolve the disparities in overtime and related payments.