Non academic staff strike would cripple Universities - UGC Chairman

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

COLOMBO: The scheduled examinations of the universities will be badly affected by the ongoing strike of the non-academic staff, Chairman of the University Grant Commission Prof. Gamini Samaranayake told Daily News yesterday.

When asked whether the universities would be shut down altogether he said “Since the academic and administrative staff are on duty, the Vice Cancellors will be able to carry on academic activities of the universities”

However it is the duty of Vice Chancellors and others to overcome the hindrances, Prof. Samaranayake said.

Further he added that the trade unions action was unfair at a time the Treasury and the Salaries Commission have agreed to settle the arrears and rectify all salary anomalies. Under this arrangement the Treasury has agreed to release Rs. 150 million while the Salaries Commission has agreed to solve 50 per cent of the problem of salary anomalies.

Trade union sources said that the problem is dragging on for more than two years without a fair solution. At the discussion they had with the UGC and Treasury officials it was agreed that the Government would settle the arrears amounting to Rs. 400 million.

However due to the financial difficulties the officers have agreed to pay the arrears in four stages. According to the Trade Union sources it was decided on arrears quantum amounting to Rs.100 million before the New year.

However this has not happened.

“We request all relevant officials of the government to solve the problem. If we receive a fair solution we will end the trade union action immediately” the sources said.