University lecturers suspend strike but defer A/L paper marking

University lecturers who were engaged in trade union action for months have decided to temporarily call off their strike and report to duty from April 17 (Monday). 

Although the strike has been called off, the decision on the participation of University Academics in the Advanced Level Examination evaluation will be protracted until a satisfactory outcome is reached. 

President of the Federation of the University Teachers’ Associations, Prof. B.M.H.S.K. Banneheka said they have decided to temporarily suspend their trade union action and commence academic activities from April 17 taking into consideration the inconveniences faced by university students.

"We are yet to get solutions from the government on the issues raised by us. We are thoroughly disappointed,” Prof. Banneheka told Times Online.  

University lecturers commenced the strike demanding the removal of the PAYE tax imposed on their salaries, increased cost of living and the immediate removal of the Vice Chancellor of the Ruhuna University.

Protest marches, black flag demonstrations, staying away from Advanced Level paper marking and academic activities in universities were some of the trade union action resorted by university lecturers.

According to the University Grants Commission, the country’s state university system has about 7,000 university teachers with 50.4 percent being senior lecturers, 32.7 percent lecturers and 16.9 percent professors.