44 Protestors test Negative for COVID-19 following arrest on Wednesday (04)

COLOMBO (News 1st); 44 people arrested for protesting opposite the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (04) have tested negative for COVID-19.

They were instructed to undergo Rapid Antigen Tests on Wednesday (04) following their arrest.

Police Spokesperson Senior DIG Ajith Rohana speaking to News 1st said 22 male teachers, 16 female teachers, and 06 others were arrested in connection to the protest.

All suspects will be produced in court on Thursday (05), said the Police Spokesperson adding that and they will be charged with Wrongful Restraint, Unlawful Assembly, and the Violation of Quarantine Rules & Regulations and offenses under the Thoroughfares Act of Sri Lanka.

The Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Unions reached Colombo in motorcades from Kadawatha, Pannipitiya, Welisara, Kandy, and Moratuwa demanding solutions to their perennial issues including salary anomalies on Wednesday (04).

The protest opposite the Presidential Secretariat eventually ended with no final decision being reached.

Teachers and Principals have been protesting for almost 24 days all around the country, in an unprecedented show of force.

On the 12th of July, Fourteen trade unions representing teachers and principals went on strike despite calls from the government to give up their trade union action and continue with teaching activities.

The Trade Unions representing Teachers and Principals are making the following key demands :

01. Permanent solution to the perennial salary anomaly issue.

02. Immediate withdrawal of the Kotelawala Defense University Bill

03. Allocation of 6% of GDP for education

04. Permanent solutions to service issues faced by Principals and Teachers.

05. System for Extra-Curricular Activities attended by Teachers and Principals