Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, as Acting Education Minister has requested all teachers to report to work and dedicate themselves to educate children without engaging in trade union action further.
The Minister also said that he would request the parents to send all their children to schools as usual. The Minister made these remarks while addressing a special press conference to raise awareness regarding the ongoing teachers’ and principals’ strike at the Government Information Department, yesterday (27).
However, responding to the Acting Education Minister’s statement, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) said that it is up to them to decide, not the Minister.
Speaking to ‘Daily Mirror’, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin has said that during the tenure of Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana, nothing substantial was provided for teachers.
“We only held a strike for two days. We will not report for duties as he said. Initially, we planned a single-day campaign. The government forced us into today’s strike after using water cannons and tear gas against us yesterday. That’s why we’ve decided to continue our sick leave campaign for today,” he has said.
