Stalin takes dig at health officials who believe COVID will spread only during protests by teachers

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Some health officials seem to believe that the coronavirus will spread only during protests by principals and teachers, Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) told The Island yesterday.

Stalin said a large number of teachers and principals had demonstrated across the country, urging the government to rectify their salary anomalies.

Stalin said that they had followed health guidelines during their protests. “We have worn masks, the participants are vaccinated, we maintain physical distance and we only ask a limited number of people to attend our protests,” he said.

“There were long queues opposite bars and shops during the past few weeks. Moreover, people have to travel in croweded buses,” he said.

Mahinda Jayasinghe, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teacher Services Union (CTSU) said principals boycotted online teaching for the 87th day yesterday. The unions had not held demonstrations for close to two months because of the quarantine laws, he said.

“We will not stop until this issue is sorted out. This is not a difficult problem to solve. Address the issues of the Subodhani Report and there will be no protests,” he said.

The inaction of the government had compelled teachers to protest on the World Teachers’ Day, Jayasinghe said.