News
Sit-ins and sit-downs give Govt. headaches
More than a thousand principals and teachers took to the streets demanding that the government take immediate measures and settle delayed promotions, salary increments and arrears on Wednesday. This was one of a string of protests this week by various sectors over a range of demands from salary issues to construction of roads.
The teachers marched from the Parliament roundabout to Isurupaya (Education Ministry premises), holding placards and calling for the attention of concerned officials.
Teachers protesting at Isurupaya. Pic by Susantha Liyanawatte
Teachers and principals (some in sarees) sat on the road in front of the ministry’s main entrance when the Education Ministry Secretary declined to explain how their complaints would be resolved.
The protest march was organised by a newly-formed trade union, the Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Union Joint Committee. Five education trade unions including the Lanka Teacher Services Union, the Ceylon Principals’ Services Union and the Independent Ceylon Teachers’ Union took part in the protest.
Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena said the protest march went ahead despite assurances to the unions that a report was being formulated to address their grievances. A committee headed by Secretary of the Senior Ministerial Secretariat Mahinda Madihahewa has appointed to make this report.
“We went ahead with our [protest] decision because we do not have any confidence in these committees. Prior to this a separate committee was formed, led by a former additional secretary of the ministry, but no solutions came for us,” the Teachers and Principals’ Trade Union Joint Committee spokesperson, Mahinda Jayasinghe, said.
He said that the union wrote to the ministry on Friday warning that it would hold a token strike in July if the Government failed to provide a satisfactory solution this month.
A series of protests and demonstrations were launched around the country this week by government and private sector workers along with university students.
On Wednesday, a large number of students, government employees and trade union members went on a protest march from the Colombo National Hospital premises to Colombo Fort, causing traffic jams along Deans Road. They were protesting against the reduction of the duration of the Allied Health Sciences Degree. The degree, originally four years long, was cut down to three by the government.
A number of government and private sector trade unions, including the Government Nursing Officers’ Association, the Inter-University Students’ Federation and the Federation of Paramedic Services joined the students in support to help win their demand.
In the meantime, Ravana Balaya launched a protest within the Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry on the same day, demanding the removal of the newly introduced police unit formed to look into religious-related issues.
The protesting monks sat on mats inside the ministry building. The General Secretary of the organization, the Ven. Ittekanda Saddatissa Thera, said he had written to Deputy Minister M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena and Ministry Secretary M.K.B. Dissanayake regarding the matter before but nothing had been done regarding it.
“The ministry officials have agreed to have a discussion and provide answers to our demands. If they fail to disband the special police unit we will come here with pots and food for cooking to remain in the ministry till they meet our demand,” the Ven. Ittekanda Saddatissa Thera said.
The unit was set up under the order of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to look into religion-related complaints on April 28 The move prompted a series of religious disputes including a case where Bodu Bala Sena members stormed into a media conference organized by a Muslim group.
On the same day students protested against the hosting of Deyata Kirula in the University of Ruhuna. The students claimed that the event would disrupt the work of the university and would be of no benefit to them despite claims by government officials.
On Thursday, the All-Ceylon Railway Employees’ General Union held a protest in front of the Railways Department at technical junction. The workers demanded that the government stop granting bank loans to pensioners instead of paying gratuities.
In a separate programme, the Sri Lanka National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) launched a petition signing campaign in front of the Fort Railway Station on Friday to draw public awareness to the problems faced by fishermen and farmers around the country.
Under the theme, “Change with Reforms” the members of the movement made four demands including the replacement of displaced persons, putting a stop to forcible land-grabbing by the government and putting a stop to fishing by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.
“People who are involved in fishing and farming are deprived of their rights and we are hoping to win them back by informing the public. Our petition will be taken to other areas including Mannar, Jaffna, Negombo, Matara and Galle to collect more signatures,” NAFSO convener Herman Kumara said.
He said that although Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Ranjith Senaratne claimed that the fishermen had no problems this was untrue.
“We seek immediate reforms to these issues. If this government is not capable of doing this, then it will have to change,” Mr. Kumara added.
He called on all religious leaders, other government employees and the public to take part in the ongoing petition.
There were also several protests by villagers in the outstations demanding the construction of roads.