The hunger strike launched by a group of Development Officers demanding their absorption into the teacher service entered its fourth day yesterday (29) outside the Presidential Secretariat Colombo.The protesters, members of the Ceylon School Development Officers’ Union (CSDOU), began their satyagraha on January 26.

One of the four officers participating in the fast-unto-death fell seriously ill on the fourth day and was rushed to hospital for treatment, while the remaining three continued the hunger strike. Earlier, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights, visited the protest site to examine the health of the protesters and oversaw the administration of saline to those suffering from dehydration.

CSDOU Secretary Viraj Manaranga criticised authorities for refusing to listen to the protestors.

“Not a single official from the relevant authorities has come forward to hear our grievances, which is a matter of serious concern,” he said, accusing the government of negligence and “stepmotherly treatment” of the issue.

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) echoed the need for legal and procedural adherence, noting that there are currently 40,000 teacher vacancies nationwide. The union stressed that a significant number of development officers and graduates remain outside the teaching service, despite provisions in the teacher service constitution allowing for their appointments, which fall under the powers of Provincial Councils.

National People’s Power (NPP) MP Chandana Sooriyarachchi said graduate development officers are required to sit a compulsory competitive examination. Former Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who oversaw appointments under the Good Governance administration, also stated that direct appointments are legally not feasible. He added that school development officers were absorbed into the teacher service in 2018 through competitive exams and stressed that appointments must follow established procedures, warning that strikes would not alter this process.

The hunger strike continues to draw attention to the demands of the Development Officers as they urge the government to take immediate steps to address their grievances.

Sri Lanka and other small Asian economies must accelerate trade diversification or face heightened vulnerability to global tariff disputes and shifting supply chains, warned Krishna Srinivasan, Director of the Asia and Pacific Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Speaking in Colombo on the evolving global trade landscape, Srinivasan highlighted Asia’s growing exposure, particularly in the wake of tariff tensions between the United States and China. “Asia benefited a lot from trade integration, benefited a lot from openness to trade,” he said. “So much so that when tariffs were imposed by the US, Asia was subject to the highest level of tariffs.”

He cautioned that the region that gained most from open markets is now at risk of bearing the brunt of protectionist measures. For countries like Sri Lanka, he said, the message is clear: diversify or be exposed.

Srinivasan also noted that South Asia remains the least integrated sub-region in the continent. “Having greater integration with your partners within the sub-region will take you a long way,” he said. For small economies, he added, building deeper trade ties with neighbours and broadening export and production bases is essential for resilience.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has received a strong vote of confidence from the IMF following a high-level meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the delegation at the Presidential Secretariat.

The visiting IMF representatives, who arrived on January 22 to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, spent a week touring the island, engaging with affected communities and observing the impact firsthand. In a briefing, the delegation praised the government’s swift relief efforts, infrastructure restoration, and commitment to rebuilding lives, noting widespread appreciation among citizens for the administration’s handling of the crisis.

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) received 10,455 complaints related to children in 2025.According to data released by the Authority, 8,514 of the complaints fell within the scope of the NCPA Act, while 1,941 cases were outside its purview.

The complaints included 545 cases of sexual harassment and 231 incidents of grave sexual abuse. The NCPA also recorded 79 teenage pregnancies and three abortions involving minors during the year.

Other reported cases included 38 incidents of rape, nine child marriages, and 150 cases of cyber abuse targeting children.

The NCPA further documented 20 attempted suicides among children in 2025.

In addition, the NCPA received 42 complaints concerning children without birth certificates and nine cases involving children under the age of five who were left behind when their parents migrated abroad.

The NCPA said the figures underscore the urgent need for sustained vigilance, early intervention, and strengthened child protection mechanisms to ensure the safety and well-being of children across the country.