• Says many teachers backed NPP’s rise
• Claims there is no need for a new study

The Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) claimed that there are no apparent plans to address the teacher-principal salary anomalies in the 2025 budget and warned of a series of trade union actions following its presentation.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, CTU President Priyantha Fernando said that incumbent National People's Power (NPP) Government, during their Presidential and Parliamentary election campaigns, promised to resolve the teacher-principal salary anomaly issue as soon as they come to power. Going away from that promise, he claimed that the Government is now going to appoint a committee to look into the issue, which will subsequently delay the provision of solutions.

"Many teachers and principals supported the NPP during the elections. Certain Government members now suggest that a committee be appointed to review this issue. There is no need to appoint committees as the necessary findings and recommendations have already been made by previous committees. The Government should allocate at least Rs. 45 billion to remove one third of salary anomalies. We do not see any preparation to resolve this issue through the upcoming budget. After the budget is presented to the Parliament, we will definitely launch trade union actions."

Multiple attempts to contact Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Madhura Senevirathna and Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa on the allegations leveled by the CTU, proved futile.

In early 2021, a Cabinet sub-committee was appointed to address the salary anomalies affecting teachers and principals, who had launched a months-long strike over the issue. Based on the Committee's findings, teachers and principals received a partial resolution to their salary concerns, with assurances that the remaining issues would be addressed promptly. However, the teachers and principals still charge that their issues remain unresolved despite these promises.