The Court of Appeal yesterday extended till August 17, 2009, the stay order on the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and three other connected respondents, restraining the implementation of the recent transfers of fifty three nurses of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. They had been transferred to the Eye Hospital, Colombo and the IDH, Angoda.

The petitioners are the All Ceylon Nurses Union and the Independent Nurses Union. They said they had been transferred after two years of service at Maharagama where the Authorities had not taken steps to give them protection from over - exposure to powerful ray treatment at the Hospital.

Instead of precautionary measures being implemented, they have been transferred. They wanted the transfer order quashed.

Dr. Jayatissa de Costa appeared for the petitioner.

The Bench comprised Justice Saththya Hettige, President, Court of Appeal.