The Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) convened a media briefing in Colombo on March 06, over a planned strike action to protest the failure to grant salary increments.

Media Spokesperson of the FUTA, senior lecturer K. P. Nishantha claimed that enthusiasm will be lacking among university teachers as their allowances are not being calculated in line with the current salary scale.

Furthermore, he noted that discussions were held with the Ministry of Higher Education, the Salary Commission, the Treasury and the University Grants Commission to resolve the prevailing issue, but that they are unable to reach an agreeable solution.

“Thereby, I must say that the Federation of University Teachers Associations has been pushed into organising this token strike”, he added.

Meanwhile, the President of the FUTA Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said that there is a deliberate effort at present to promote private universities and neglect state universities, which is extremely clear.

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