October 29, Colombo (LNW): The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has announced a 24-hour trade union action across Sri Lanka’s state university system tomorrow (30), alongside a protest march to press the authorities to address longstanding problems affecting higher education.
FUTA General Secretary and Senior Lecturer Charudaththe Illangasinghe confirmed that the strike would involve university academics throughout the country. The planned industrial action is intended to increase pressure on the relevant authorities to respond to concerns over working conditions and the state of university education.
Among the key issues prompting the move are persistent vacancies in academic positions, the growing workload placed on existing lecturers and other university staff, and shortcomings in the physical infrastructure and facilities available at state institutions.
FUTA has argued that these challenges are placing considerable pressure on university personnel and could affect the effective functioning of the higher education system if they remain unresolved.
Illangasinghe said the association would also organise a protest march tomorrow, running parallel to the strike, to bring these concerns before the wider public and highlight the difficulties confronting state universities.
The union’s decision signals renewed efforts by university academics to draw attention to institutional challenges that they believe require a coordinated response. Through the strike and accompanying demonstration, FUTA hopes to ensure that concerns over staffing, workloads and inadequate facilities receive greater public and official attention.
The planned action is expected to place the condition of Sri Lanka’s state university system firmly in the spotlight, as academics call for meaningful measures to address the issues affecting both university staff and the institutions in which they work.
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