• Threatens intermittent TU actions in 2026 unless 1/3rd of anomalies added as minimum adjustment and salaries calculated accordingly  

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) stated they expect the Government to resolve the long-standing salary anomaly issue affecting teachers and principals, at least by providing the minimum possible adjustment, and warned they would launch trade union (TU) actions from time to time next year (2026) if no such solution is given.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, CTU President Priyantha Fernando said that the Government has repeatedly said that it would look into the matter but has yet to take any steps. “We hope that a solution will be provided through the upcoming Budget. However, there is no mention of it in the Budget heads of expenditure that have been reported so far.”

He said that the CTU has already planned to take TU action periodically throughout 2026 if the salary anomaly remains unresolved. “If at least a part can be added and salaries be calculated accordingly, we can accept that as a temporary solution until a complete one is found. The minimum adjustment should be at least one-third of the existing anomalies.”

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa said recently that the Ministry did not have the authority to make direct decisions regarding the salary anomalies of teachers and principals, noting that the matter falls under the purview of the Ministry of Finance.

In 2021, the then-Government led by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a Cabinet of Ministers sub-committee to study the issue following a prolonged strike by teachers and principals TUs. Based on the committee’s recommendations, a partial salary adjustment was granted, with a promise that the remaining disparities would be addressed later.