Pro-education rally draws 3,000 people
Colombo (AsiaNews) - About 3,000 people marched through the streets of Colombo to protest against the government after it shut down the country's universities three days ago. Organised by the Federation of University Teachers' Association (FUTA), the rally began at 4 pm (local time) under heavy rain, which did not discourage from participating teachers, students, political and religious leaders as well as activists. Despite the peaceful nature of the action, police forced marchers to disperse at 7 pm.
"Protect state education" shouted participants, fully supportive of FUTA's fight. The Federation in fact wants the government to invest 6 per cent of GDP in education and higher teachers' salaries as well as guarantee the independence of academic institutions from political interference.
FUTA presented its demands to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 16 April and the Education Ministry on 18 April. In the absence of an answer, the teachers decided on 4 July to go on strike, which is still ongoing.
The government responded by a lockout, shutting down all of the country's universities, except for faculties of medicine (whose members however took part in yesterday's demonstration), accusing the teachers of jeopardising students' future.
When FUTA president Niramal Ranjith began the rally, he said that "state education uplifts the whole of society. It is the only domain that can bring social justice."
Echoing the former University Trade Union coordinator Mahindapala said, "Since our elders gained much more from a free education, now they have a responsibility to protect the same for future generations."
The rally was supposed to include three different marches, one from Maradana Railway Station, one from Nawaloka Hospital and one from Lotus Pond Theatre. However, police cancelled the first, and later blocked access to Union Place, where the final rally was held, despite the peaceful nature of two other marches.
"This action was done to prevent ordinary citizens from seeing what was happening," said FUTA Deputy President, the Venerable Dambara Amila Thera.
"There was no reason to close to streets," he added. "They could have done it when people were marching; instead, we were forced to walk in the traffic. In the end, when we were not bothering anyone, they blocked everything to deny us access."
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24/01/2007
