Teachers arrested for protesting in Colombo undergo tests for COVID-19 - Police

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police arrested a total of 44 people for protesting opposite the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (04) afternoon.

Police Spokesperson Senior DIG Ajith Rohana speaking to News 1st said all of them were subject to Rapid Antigen Tests for COVID-19.

22 male teachers and 16 female teachers were detained by police in addition to 06 other people.

They will be produced in court on Thursday (05), said the Police Spokesperson.

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.

They are charged with unlawful assembly, obstruction of vehicular movement and main roads, as well violating the Quarantine Rules and Regulations, said the Police Spokesperson.

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