SB to reopen universities today
September 5, 2012, 9:38 pm , The Island
by Dasun Edirisinghe and Norman Palihawadana
Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake yesterday announced that universities, which were closed on Aug 21, due to ongoing strike by the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA), would be re-opened today (6).
Minister Dissanayake told The Island that he expected the majority of striking members to report for work regardless of ongoing attempts by a section of the FUTA to continue with the strike.
Talks between FUTA and Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera failed yesterday.
FUTA Chief Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri told The Island that yesterday’s discussions had focused on their demand for a salary increase.
FUTA wouldn’t give up its struggle until the government met all its demands, including allocation of six per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the education sector, Dr. Devasiri said.
Officials involved in yesterday’s failed talks were Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, UGC Vice Chairman, an official from the National Salaries and Cadre Commission and FUTA members.
Medical faculty teachers of the Kelaniya University, too, will hold a token strike next week in support of the FUTA trade union action, according to Dr. Devasiri. Lecturers of Sri Jayewardenepura Medical Sciences Faculty staged a token strike on Monday (03) as a pledge of solidarity with the strikers.
Higher Education Secretary Dr. Navaratne said the government expected FUTA to call off its strike.
