VCs ask for letters from striking dons if they need July salary

FUTA won’t succumb to pressure - Devasiri

July 23, 2012, 10:06 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

 University teachers who have been on an all out strike since July 04 have been told by the vice chancellors of their respective universities, that if they want their July salaries, they have to submit letter stating that they have not been on strike.

President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri told The Island that the striking dons would not submit such letters.

He said that they would continue with the strikedemanding the allocation of six percent of the GDP for the education sector, consulting them when taking decision relating to the higher education sector and a pay hike.

"Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, too, has taken us for a ride," Dr. Devasiri said, adding that Weeratunga had not invited them to talks as promised after two rounds of discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat two weeks ago.

Dr. Devasiri said that Public Affairs and Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva had wanted to meet them, but the FUTA membership had not endorsed such a meeting.

The Island made several attempts to contact the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Gamini Samaranayake but to no avail.