by Dilanthi Jayamanne
The government nurses were granted a Rs. 1,000 increase for uniform allowance yesterday when the Minister of Health and the Health Secretary met with the nurses union for the second time to reach an understanding. It will cost the government an added Rs. 15 million for an year.

"We are trying our best to prevent patients from being inconvenienced, so we had to agree to their demand for an increase in the uniform allowance," Health Secretary, Thilak Ranviraja told, `The Island.’

Government nurses called off their two day sick note campaign and reported for work as the Health Ministry and the representatives of the Public Services United Nurses Union(PSUNU) headed by the Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananda Thero met and ministry officials granted a major part of the nurses demands. Minister of Health W.D.J.Seneviratne and the Health Secretary held discussions with the union for several hours before reaching a satisfactory solution, Health Ministry sources said.

. They said that the nurses had demanded a three thousand rupee increase but had settled for less.

The Minister also agreed to grant the trainee nurses Rs. 5,000 as an allowance in addition to their uniform allowance which they would received from next year, sources said.

The minister promised to find a solution to the nurses salary anomalies while agreeing to grant them a Rs. 15 increase in their overtime.