• B.Ed. grads protest separately seeking urgent recruitment as teachers 

A protest organised by the School Development Officers’ (DOs) Association commenced yesterday morning (2) in front of the Presidential Secretariat, citing the lack of solutions to their long-standing grievances. The Association stated the protest is being conducted with the support of civil society representatives.

Meanwhile, the ongoing hunger strike launched by the Association outside the Secretariat has now reached its ninth consecutive day.

The protest, which initially began as a satyagraha, was escalated to a fast-unto-death as officers demand their immediate absorption into the permanent teacher service, stating they are already performing teaching duties in schools.

The Association noted that a discussion with the President has been scheduled for today (3) to address these issues. However, Viraj Manaranga of the Association emphasised that yesterday’s protest was launched because the authorities have repeatedly failed to provide a definitive resolution.

Earlier yesterday, a delegation from the Sarvajana Balaya Party, including its Leader and Opposition Parliamentarian, attorney Dilith Jayaweera, visited the protest site to meet with the fasting officers and inquire into their well-being.

Meanwhile, a separate protest was launched in front of the Education Ministry at Isurupaya, Battaramulla, by the Union of Education Graduates. They are urging the Government to expedite the recruitment of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) graduates from state universities into the teaching service.

Commenting on the broader crisis, the Chairperson of the Lanka Teacher Services Union, Priyantha Fernando, alleged that while there is currently a shortage of 43,000 teachers in the education system, the Government has failed to take effective measures to fill these vacancies.