News
Teachers and principals stick to their guns
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government had to rectify the salary anomalies affecting principals and teachers before reopening schools on 21 October, principals and teachers trade unions said yesterday.
The government had not held any discussions with the unions on solving their long-standing salary issues, they claimed.
Parakrama Weerasinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Principals Association said that they did not want to extend their trade union action and that the government could easily resolve the crisis.
“They are trying to show that addressing our salary anomaly is a very expensive affair. However, this is not the case. Solving our salary issue is not difficult. The government just has to talk to us,” he said.
Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) head Joseph Stalin said that the unions were only asking the government to give the increment, recommended by a ministerial committee, in one go, instead of four steps.
This has been our stance. However, instead of talking to us they are trying to compel us to come to work by reopening schools. The ball is in the government’s court, they have time till 21 October to resolve our issues. If not, we will take a decision,” he said.
Chief Incumbent of the Abhayarama Temple Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera yesterday urged the unions to help the government reopen schools. The Thera added that the demands of the unions were just and that he fully supported them.
“We recently held a meeting with almost all political parties. They all pledged their support to the teachers’ demands. I am willing to be a mediator in solving this issue. So, please, let’s work together to open schools. Don’t think of this as a loss or a retreat,” the Thera pleaded.
NPP Parliamentarian Asoka Ranwala who was appointed the 22nd Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament, on 21st November has resigned from his position today [13], in the wake of the controversy surrounding his educational qualifications.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially appointed members to the Port City Economic Commission.
Accordingly Harsha Amarasekera, President’s Counsel, has been appointed as the Chairman while Damien Amal Cabraal, Mohan Ray Abeywardena, Sanjaya Kulatunga, and Dr. Harsha Subasinghe were appointed as members of the Port City Economic Commission
The official letters of appointment were handed over to the members by the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (13).
“We will not allow the trust the people have placed in us to be undermined in any way,” stated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a meeting with the heads of state media today (13).
He further emphasised, “Regardless of their status in government, if mistakes are made, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
The President further explained:
“For more than seven decades, the people of this nation have built and dismantled various governments. For the first time, we stand with a profound understanding of the historic mandate entrusted to us and the National People’s Power on two occasions.
The people placed their faith in the National People’s Power (NPP) government, hoping for a standardised and stable country. We will not tarnish that extraordinary trust, even by the slightest misconduct.
Simply put, our government is not here to shield anyone who errs, for any reason. Be it within the broader framework of the country or within our administration, anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will face consequences. We will not hesitate to act decisively and at the right time. In essence, our government will not shield anyone who makes a mistake, regardless of the reason. Whether the mistake occurs within the country or at any level within our government, we will not hesitate to take decisive action. Every necessary step will be taken at the appropriate time without delay.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the trust placed in them by the people, who have endured decades of deception. He pledged to work tirelessly to build a better nation.
The Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Director-General of Government Information, Harsha Bandara, and the heads of state media were present at the meeting.
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