October 10, Colombo (LNW): The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has warned that it is prepared to step up trade union action unless the Government takes meaningful steps to address the growing problems confronting Sri Lanka’s state university sector.
FUTA Media Spokesperson Senior Lecturer Charudatta Ilangasinghe said longstanding concerns affecting universities had remained unresolved despite repeated discussions over the past two years. He stressed that continued delays in addressing these matters had deepened concerns among academics about the future of the country’s public higher education system.
One of the most pressing issues is the steady loss of experienced and highly qualified academic staff, with universities struggling to replace those who have left. The shortage of new recruits is placing additional pressure on existing lecturers and researchers, raising concerns about the quality of teaching, research and other academic services available to students.
Ilangasinghe warned that the continued departure of skilled professionals, coupled with the failure to recruit sufficient new personnel, could have lasting consequences for public education. He suggested that without timely intervention, universities would find it increasingly difficult to maintain academic standards and fulfil their responsibilities to students and society.
FUTA has already sought discussions with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and the Minister of Education in an attempt to secure solutions to the sector’s difficulties. However, according to Ilangasinghe, those engagements have yet to deliver the practical outcomes required to address the concerns raised by university teachers.
The association has also attempted to bring the matter directly to the attention of the country’s senior leadership. Approximately two weeks ago, it sent letters to the President and the Deputy Minister of Finance requesting discussions on several critical issues, including financial allocations for state universities, the condition of university infrastructure and difficulties affecting students.
Despite these efforts, FUTA says it has received no response that would indicate progress towards resolving the outstanding concerns.
The association maintains that adequate funding, improved facilities and appropriate measures to address student-related difficulties are essential to ensuring that state universities can continue to provide quality education. It has also expressed concern over the consequences of allowing existing problems to persist without a clear and effective response from the authorities.
FUTA’s latest warning signals the possibility of renewed tensions between university academics and the Government at a time when the state university system is already under pressure from staffing shortages and resource constraints.
The association has indicated that further escalation of trade union action remains an option if its concerns continue to go unaddressed. The extent of any future action, however, will depend on whether the authorities respond with meaningful proposals to resolve the issues affecting the university sector.
