Teachers, Principals strike success; work-to-rule from today: CTU

The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) today said that their countrywide work stoppage was successful and so far no solution has been made by the Government to meet their demands.

Nearly one hundred per cent of the government schools did not function as the result of the strike.

The CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said all the teachers and principals gathered at the G.H. Buddhadasa Grounds in Battaramulla this morning and paraded in a protest march and demonstration outside the Education Ministry.

"We do not want to hold any discussions with ministry officials. The Government should issue a gazette notification to solve the salary anomalies related to teachers and principals, and pay interim allowances until the issue is sorted out," he said.

Since there was no response from the government, the CTU had decided to continue with its strike in schools in the form of 'work-to-rule campaign' from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm from today.

Meanwhile, CTU has decided to launch another five-day countrywide strike from February 16, he said. Our attempt to contact Education Ministry officials in connection with this was proved futile due to 'public day' at the Ministry. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)