President’s warning to striking Teachers and Principals
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that steps will be taken to designate teaching as an essential service if school teachers deprive students of their education.
The President further emphasized the importance of teachers being present in schools during morning hours to ensure the education of children.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), he made the remarks during a discussion with the Chief Prelate of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Nayaka Thera in Kandy today.
Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said over 10,000 schools were forced to close yesterday due to the strike action launched by teachers and principals over several demands including salary anomalies.
Simultaneous to the strike action, teacher and principal trade unions, along with the CTU, staged a protest march in Colombo, during which the Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters.
The CTU announced that the strike action will be continued today as well, with teachers and principals reporting sick to duty, to protest the Police action during yesterday’s protest march.
