University strike continue

Aug 30 (InfoLanka) The second round of talks held between the university non-academic staff and UGC officials before Labour Commissioner collapsed one again over the firm stance of strikers on the demand of three salary increments.

The UGC Chairman B.R.R.N.Ranjith Mendis said that the Tertiary Education Ministry was not however prepared to meet the controversial issue of three salary increments demanded by the non-academic staff.

"Treasury officials also participated in the talks. Then, the inability to address that issue as they wish was disclosed to the strikers. Hence another round of talks would be held today," he said. He said that Labour Commissioner did not fix a specific time for the commencement of today's talks. "He left it for the relevant parties to decide on the time," he said.

On inquiry about the outcome of yesterday's talks, a spokesman for the Inter University Trade Union Federation, which leads the strike, said that yesterday's talks sparked deep concerns among them since it did not produce any satisfactory result.