Mahanayakes offer to mediate

September 28, 2012, 12:00 pm

By Cyril Wimalasurendre, The Island

KANDY– The Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters yesterday offered to mediate between the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations and the government to bring about a settlement to the on-going strike by FUTA.

Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddharatha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thera of Malwatte and Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakitha Mahanayaka Thera of Asgiriya, in a joint statement issued Yesterday (28), observed that the strike launched by the university teachers had lasted for over three months without a solution.

They urged the Higher Education Minister and the FUTA to take necessary steps to resolve the issue through a dialogue without further delay.

The denial of education to the students would lead the youth, an invaluable asset of the country, to destructive paths owing to their frustration, the statement added.

The Manahayaka Theras stated that they had observed such trade union action in other sectors and they had resolved their issues through negotiations but it was sad to note that the problem with the university teachers remained without a solution for such a long time.