President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday a set of proposals through trade unions should be forwarded before the end of this month so that problems of salary anomalies faced by teachers could be solved.

President Rajapaksa made these remarks while addressing a meeting of teacher and principal union representatives at Temple Trees.

The President who focused on a set of proposals forwarded by the Salaries Commission, directed the representatives to compare and consider those proposals with their claims and submit a suitable solution so that the problems be solved.

“However, such proposals should not be a burden to the Nation’s coffers and should be made with due consideration to the present economic situation in the country,” the President said.

It was also agreed that a consensus be reached through circulars at Ministry level to solve graduate teachers’ problems.

Union representatives pointed out that their claim is not mainly to get the salaries increased but to iron out existing differences among their grades.

“My main intention is to extricate the North from the grip of terrorists, as in the case of East and to develop the country. It is the duty of teachers to protect children in the same manner as our valiant soldiers protect the country. Our children - the posterity of the country is indeed the backbone of the nation. Therefore, you should never sacrifice their future,” the President said.

President Rajapaksa also told teachers to forward their problems through trade unions as it serves to protect their dignity.

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nimal Bandara, Salaries Commission Chairman Lionel Fernando and representatives of teachers and principals participated.