Govt hoping to resolve FUTA strike tomorrow

The government is hoping to meet FUTA officials tomorrow to resolve the current university lecturers’ strike action, says Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake.  

The Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) launched a strike action from 4th July, demanding an increase in Government spending on state universities and education in general. 

The Department of Examinations had invited university lecturers for a special discussion regading A/L paper marking, which have been delayed due to academics’ refusal to mark answer scripts while on strike.

However FUTA rejected the invitation citing they will not participate in any duties until their demands are met.  

The government however claims FUTA has undertaken this trade union action in willful disregard of the welfare of students and the larger society, without any attempt at negotiation and without the consensus of the academic community. 

Several previous attempts to resolve the issue via dialog have failed.