Trade union calls on government to withdraw circulars against university lecturers demanding salary revision

Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated National Trade Union Center (NTUC) today, calling them intimidating, condemned the government's actions against the university lecturers, who launched a token strike yesterday (27) demanding a revision in their salaries.



University lecturers from various parts of the island yesterday launched a token strike demanding a salary revision and called on Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake to inform in writing the revised salaries to the university academic staff mentioned by him in parliament a few weeks back.
JVP politburo member and NTUC Head, K.D. Lalkantha in a statement called on the government not to intimidate the 4,000 odd lecturers who participated in yesterday's token strike and to withdraw the circular issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) asking university authorities to deduct the hours spent on the protest by the personal leave of the university lecturers.
Lalkantha blamed the government for the university lecturers' decision to launch a token strike saying it was the false promises made by the government that had compelled the lecturers to resort to such action.
He observed that the salary issue of university lecturers was a matter of serious concern as the brain drain has had an adverse impact on the country's overall growth.
Lalkantha while condemning the government's actions asked that such action not be taken against the working masses when they are engaged in making fair demands.