Sri Lanka Monitor January-March 2004
In brief
Doctors strike
Government doctors began strike action on 11 March alleging anomalies in wage differentials between doctors and other medical staff. Following a meeting with the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) on 19 March, Finance minister KN Choksy assured that the Wage Review Committee would consider the issue. The strike ended on the same day.
Labour standards
In a report released on 3 March, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) notes that despite government claim that core labour standards are respected, serious violations are widespread in Sri Lanka. Based on government claims, the EU had agreed tariff cuts in 2004. ICFTU says quality of employment for women has deteriorated. They suffer discrimination and face sexual harassment, especially in the private sector. Child labour is prevalent and some rural children are tied to debt bondage.
Foreign aid
Economic Intelligence Unit of the Economist says that foreign aid utilization in Sri Lanka improved in 2003, with aid flowing to housing, plantation development, energy, transport, irrigation and resettlement. But political uncertainty has jeopardised future aid flows, particularly the $4.5 billion aid pledged at the Tokyo conference in June 2003. Aid donors express serious concern over the ability to utilize aid while instability continues.
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