News
Financial struggles plague university academics as taxation woes spark exodus
By Rathindra Kuruwita
About two percent of university academics see their entire salary deducted due to PAYE tax and higher interest rates, Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) media spokesman, Senior Lecturer Charudatta Ilangasinghe, told The Island.
There are many others who only receive about 1,500 rupees as salaries, he said.
“How will they survive? Most of such people leave, and even if they stay, they are under tremendous pressure. How can they carry out their duties as academics?” he asked.
Ilangasinghe said that about 800 academics have left the country, and the teacher-student ratio has increased.
“Sometimes, we only teach a percentage of students. We ask the others to stay home. There are no provisions to address the shortages in many science laboratories. The quality of education has dropped. We will only see the results in a few years. We need to develop our human capital to come out of this crisis. However, we are doing the opposite,” he said.
Ilangasinghe added that the future generation will judge this government harshly. He added that the government is playing around with numbers to convince people that the economy has stabilized.
“However, everyone is feeling the pressure, which is increasing. In 2024, things will get worse. In a survey in January 2023, about 26 percent of the academics were of the opinion that they would leave the country within the next two years. About 10 percent have left by December 2023.
He said that the government promised to give a tax concession to professionals after the first review under the IMF agreement. However, the government went back on its word, although the IMF approved the second tranche of the finance package.
“A lot of professionals tried to weather 2023, expecting things to change in 2024. But now we know that 2024 is going to be worse. Most professionals, who can, will leave in 2024, and many sectors will collapse. This is especially the case in academia,” he went on to say.
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Nawaladi, Paranthan, Murasumodai, Vellikkandal, Udapattukkandal, Puliyampokkanei about 12:10 noon today [14]
On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.
The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (14th) are Nawaladi, Paranthan, Murasumodai, Vellikkandal, Udapattukkandal, Puliyampokkanei about 12:10 noon.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 13 April 2026, valid for 14 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 12 April 2026, valid for 13 April 2026.
Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Sun directly overhead Nawaladi, Paranthan, Murasumodai, Vellikkandal, Udapattukkandal, Puliyampokkanei about 12:10 noon today [14]
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm
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Heat Index at Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
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