Sri Lankan government holds crucial meeting with University Dons

FUTA President Nirmal Ranjith and Minister Basil Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan government yesterday held a crucial meeting with the country’s University academics, who are on a three month long strike demanding higher salaries and several other benefits.

The meeting which has run up to several hours was conducted by the Minister of Economic Affairs Basil Rajapaksa, who is playing the mediators role to end the nearly 99 day strike.

Sri Lanka’s University academics launched the strike campaign during the month of July and extended their campaign to a new level, when they marched from Galle to Colombo putting pressure on the government to meet the demands.

The protest march was heavily backed by opposition political parties and civil society groups.

The academics led by Federation of University Teachers Association also held a public rally in Colombo to create public awareness regarding their fight.

Dons also demanded the government allocate 6% of the GDP to the country’s education sector.