Sept 28, Colombo: Pro-government university academics of Sri Lanka today launched a counter struggle against the Marxist party affiliated union, Federation of University Teachers' Association (FUTA) which is on strike for nearly three months.

As the five-day march of FUTA reached Colombo today amidst heavy traffic jams and held a protest rally in Colombo Hyde Park, the pro-government university teachers also held a press conference in Colombo.

A new organization called Collective University Teachers' Organizations for the Education of the Children of the Nation addressed media and criticized FUTA.

Meanwhile, another group of university dons led by Dr. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa met the Buddhist Chief Prelates and appealed them to mediate to solve the problem.

The Chief Prelates of Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters in a statement urged the government to take immediate measures to resolve the crisis that has been dragging on for months for the sake of the students.

The participation of opposition political party leaders including the DNA leader Sarath Fonseka, UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa and JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe in the FUTA protest rally today has further politicized FUTA's struggle for their demands to save the state' education.