University teachers relinquish admin posts

06 May, 2011

	Teachers warn that the union action may interrupt continuous education in the universities

University teachers in Sri Lanka are resigning from all administrative positions to protest against government’s failure to resolve their salary anomalies.

Dr Mahin Mendis, the spokesman of Sri Lanka University Teachers’ Association (SLUTA), said that the teachers will be relinquishing their administrative positions from 09 May.

“The senior lecturers are only resigning from the administrative positions they voluntarily took over. The Deans will stay in their positions but will weekly evaluate the situation,” Dr Mendis told BBC Sinhala service, Sandeshaya. 

Government response

The union warned, however, that the union action may interrupt continuous education in the universities.

If there is no progress in the situation, we will have to boycott marking A/L answer papers in August Dr Mahin Mendis, SLUTA spokesman

“If there is no progress in the situation, we will have to boycott marking A/L answer papers in August,” Dr Mendis added.

But Higher Education Minister SB Dissanayake told BBC Sandeshaya that there are no positions in the universities called voluntary positions.

The government has already increased the salaries of the university teachers, the minister said, as additional allowances.