Description

On 23rd March, addressing a ceremony to distribute free textbooks and uniforms to school children
held at the Sanghamitta Girls’ College in Colombo, the President stated that he would declare
school education an essential service, in a bid to control trade union actions by teachers. President
said “we cannot stop providing education, or conducting examinations. One cannot disrupt it. I
hope the remaining problems will be resolved soon. Otherwise we will have to present a draft bill
that makes schools an essential service. You can debate on its necessity. However, we will not
allow school children to be taken hostage, because of various other issues”. Recently there were
several trade union actions by teachers against increase of personal taxes, and some trade
unions threatened to take trade union action against the government decision to dissolve the
teacher transfer board.