Medical officers in Batticaloa launched a strike on Thursday demonstrating against the failure to receive authorised salary increases, previously approved by the Ministry of Health and Social Services in the Eastern Province in January 2018.
Patients waited in empty rooms as staff walked out in protest.
Meeting with the Governor of the Eastern Province on the issue on April 10, representatives of the Eastern branch of the Government Medial Officers Association raised objections to the delay and received assurances from the Governor that the increase would be paid before Tamil New Year on April 14.
Protesting on Thursday, the medical officers condemned the Governor's failure to fulfil his pledge to take action.