University academics threaten intensified trade union action

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has warned that it will intensify trade union action over what it says are unresolved problems facing Sri Lanka’s state university system.

FUTA spokesman and Senior Lecturer Charudatta Ilangasinghe said the association had raised the issues repeatedly over the past two years but had yet to receive satisfactory solutions.

He said state universities were facing serious difficulties, including the departure of highly qualified academics, problems in recruiting new staff, inadequate funding, infrastructure shortcomings and difficulties faced by students.

Ilangasinghe said the loss of experienced academics and the lack of new recruits were affecting the quality of state higher education.

FUTA had previously held discussions with the Prime Minister and the Education Minister seeking solutions, but those talks had failed to produce results, he said.

The association had subsequently written to the President and the Deputy Finance Minister around two weeks ago requesting discussions on university funding, infrastructure and student-related issues.

However, Ilangasinghe said no response had yet been received.

“We have discussed these problems for the past two years, and when no solutions were provided, we moved towards trade union action,” he said.

He added that the state university system was now facing a range of problems that had become increasingly difficult to sustain.

FUTA said it would therefore consider stepping up its trade union action unless the government responded to its concerns.