Aug 01, Colombo: It is reported that the teachers’ and principals’ associations have informed the Education Secretary that they do not accept his notice to report to work tomorrow as informed and they will not be attending to duties at schools tomorrow.

The leaders of the teachers'and principals' associations have sent a letter to the Secretary of Education stating that they do not accept the calling of teachers and principals to work without addressing the issue of salary anomalies.

The letter also states that teachers or non-academic employees will not report to work accordingly.

Meanwhile continuing their trade union action for the 21st day, teachers and principals staged a massive protest rally in Nuwara Eliya town Sunday.

The teachers’ and principals’ unions said they will decide whether to continue the strike depending on the response to tomorrow’s cabinet meeting.

Teachers in government-run schools withdrew from online teaching from 12 July to protest the detention of union leaders who were protesting against the proposed Kotelawala Defense University Bill.

Over 200,000 teachers across the country are involved in the strike, called by the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), Ceylon Teacher Service Union, United Teachers Union and several other unions.

The Trade Unions representing teachers and principals are demanding a salary increase, a permanent solution to the existing salary anomaly issue, permanent solutions to service issues faced by principals and teachers, and immediate withdrawal of the Kotelawala National Defense University Act (KNDUA).