'FUTA demands, a ploy'

Disna MUDALIGE

The series of demands put forward by the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) is a ploy to get the backing of society for its trade union action, Sri Lanka Freedom Students Organization (SLFSO) chairman Gihan Bandara Dissanayake said.

Addressing a press conference at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday, he observed that a few general demands related to education have been deliberately included by FUTA to win the support of the public.

He said that these general demands have been highlighted by FUTA while sidelining their personal demands including the pay hike.

He noted that the public must understand this deception.

He noted that most of these demands are borrowed slogans of the Inter University Students Federation. He added that these demands presented by the FUTA for short term implementation are in reality long term proposals.

He observed that the pay hike demand of the University lecturers is unreasonable.

He noted that the lecturers who have already obtained a considerable salary hike must question from their conscience as to how far their demand is reasonable.

He observed that if this salary hike is made it would be a favouration for lecturers who are only one category among professional groups in Sri Lanka. SLFSO Media Secretary Roshan Perera also participated.