Rohan Laksiri General Secretary Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA). 

We are currently experiencing the worst economic and political collapse in the history of Sri Lanka post-independence. The present government, consisting of a two-thirds majority in Parliament and an executive president with unlimited powers obtained through the infamous 20th Constitutional Amendment, has, in a short period of time, disappointed the people of this country with its short-sighted financial, economic, and foreign policies. It has made the youth of the country who volunteered after the last election to beautify the cities and cultivate the barren paddy fields with the dream of a better future for the country leave the country altogether. The country has now reached a stage where meeting basic needs such as fuel, gas, electricity, milk powder, and fertilizer has become a daily and continuous struggle.  The extent to which the situation has deteriorated has become further evident by the postponement of school term tests due to the lack of printing paper. Unfortunately, other than unsatisfactory attempts at implementing ad-hoc, temporary, and ineffective measures, we have not seen this government present or implement definite and well-thought-out plans to overcome the crisis. We have not witnessed at least a genuine interest to overcome this crisis on the part of the present government. 

It is against this backdrop that the people of this country have been driven to take to the streets on their own, without the backing of political parties or any other organizations, as never seen in recent history.

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) strongly condemns the current regime for not solving the legitimate issues of the general public and focusing only on retaining power by indiscriminately using military and police forces under the guise of emergency and curfew, labeling unarmed peaceful protesters extremists, and attempting to provoke them into violence by using petty tactics that are unbecoming of a democratically elected government.

We urge the government, including the President, to immediately bring forth appropriate short-term and long-term solutions to the current crisis by taking advice from actual experts in financial and economic management rather than their family members and business associates. We also urge the general public to act prudently in engaging in protests against this inefficient and atrocious regime. Further, we implore the people not to fall into the traps of the government as well as other opportunistic forces and not to endanger lives and public property.

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) is ready to provide the expertise and experience of our able members to ensure the success of any sincere initiative that would bring relief to the affected.