Oct 03, Colombo: The Higher Education Ministry of Sri Lanka says that university lecturers who have been on strike for almost three months are now returning to universities.

Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne has said that lecturers have started to return to work after the Higher Education Minister's announcement that they would be paid the salary arrears for the months they had not reported to work if they returned to the universities this month.

He has noted that several faculties in the Colombo, Ruhunu and Peradeniya universities have now been opened after the lecturers had reported to work.

According to Dr. Navaratne, more lecturers are likely to return to work in the next few days.

The Federation of University Teachers' Association (FUTA) on July 4th commenced a strike calling for a salary increase and the allocation of 6 percent of the GDP for the education sector among others.

The Association claims that the university lecturers would not return to work until their demands are met.

However, Dr. Navaratne has said the government is taking necessary steps to put in place five out of the six demands of the university lecturers.