President ready to talks to FUTA if strike is called off, SB tells prelates

October 3, 2012, 12:00 pm 

By Cyril Wimalasurendre. The Island

KANDY: Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayaka, calling on the Most Venerable Mahanayaka, of the Ramangna Mahanikaye, Napana Pemasiri Thera, residing at Menikhinna, disclosed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was ready to hold talks with the FUTA if the university teachers called off their strike.

The Minister paid similar visits to the Anunayaka Thera of Asgiriya and the Nayaka Thera of Getambe Rajopawanaramaya yesterday (03).

Explaining the university crisis due to the strike launched by university teachers, Dissanayaka said that at least 50 per cent of the academic staff of the universities had returned to work and only a handful of dons were still on strike.

The striking dons and their allies were demanding 6 per cent of the GDP for education. The government was currently allocating 4.5 per cent on education provided to students at different educational institutions including, universities, the Minister claimed.

However, President Rajapaksa hadcat announced that he would talk to the FUTA only if it called off the strike action, Minister Dissanayaka told the prelates.

Ven. Pemasiri Thera said that the being a group of intellectuals the university teachers were aware what a government could and could not do. Therefore, they should meet the President and find a reasonable solution for the sake of the country’s children.

The Minister also called on the prelate of Malwatte who conferred blessings him.

Prof. Athula Senaratne, Vice Chancellor University of Peradeniya accompanied the minister.