SVSA to launch strike over Health Ministry's attempt to bring anti-rabies programme under its purview

The State Veterinary Surgeons' Association (SVSA) has decided to engage in trade union action from February 26 owing to the attempts to bring the anti-rabies programmes under the Health Ministry.

According to a statement issued by the SVSA, further to the strike, the organisation aims to bring these issues to the attention of  President Maithripala Sirisena while citing the irregularities that have taken place whilst conducting these programmes.

In addition, the SVSA is also making arrangements to collect more than 10,000 signatures for a petition that would be submitted to the President in this regard. The campaign towards the signing of the petition will take place opposite the Fort Railway station from 3 pm onwards on February 25.

A protest march will also be carried out on Feb 26 at the Lipton roundabout at 12 pm calling for the abolishment of the approved Cabinet paper to vest the Health Ministry with the responsibility of carrying out the anti-rabies campaigns.

"The duty of implementing these campaigns was vested with the SVSA and was successfully carried out by the Department of Animal Production and Health since April last year since the Health Ministry had failed to eradicate this disease for over 65 years," SVSA Chairman Dr. Ruwan Wickramarachchi was quoted as saying in the statement.

He also claimed that the cabinet paper which was approved recently to entrust the Health Ministry with the duty of carrying out such campaigns was a foiled attempt to mislead the President and the cabinet.

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