July 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka Teachers' Service Trade Union yesterday announced that they will launch a trade union action by not participating in grading national examination papers in September.

Speaking at a press briefing, Trade Union spokesman, Mahinda Jayasinghe said that the decision has been reached as no positive response has been given by the government with regard to solving the prevailing salary anomalies in the pay scales of the teachers and principals.

“If the government was responsible for the teachers this problem would have been sorted by now, then they would have focused on the paper marking straight after the exam,” he said.

“If this does not take place, once the schools are reopened in September we will go for a Trade Union action, we will not disturb the exam, students can sit for the exam without problems, but after it would be a problem for them when the paper markings get delayed, but for this the government has to take the responsibility,” he added.