The cabinet statement said these educational programmes may be extended up to 20.

As I once told the media, a kottu maker at a hotel must be getting more money than a teacher.”

The committee is expected to submit a report to Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa by next Monday’s cabinet meeting.

Teachers also defied a government order to all state public servants to return to work on Monday (02).

"I believe MPs and the public should be given more time to express their views [on the bill],” the minister said.

This is amid reports of school children climbing roofs, rocks and trees to access mobile signals to study online.

“When you resolve the issue of one sector, it will create more troubles in other sectors."

The protestors claimed the bill is threatening free education in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic woes brought about by the pandemic will not allow a quick fix to the teachers’ demands.

The strike will deprive tens of thousands of Sri Lanka’s students of virtual education.