On Wednesday, June 26, teachers and principals' unions initiated a sick leave campaign to protest unresolved salary disparities. Joseph Stalin, Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union, announced a protest at Fort Railway Station at 11 a.m., involving principals, teachers, and educators.

Stalin criticized the government for providing only one-third of the salary increase recommended by a special committee last year and held the government accountable for the campaign's impact on the school system. He demanded the remaining two-thirds of the recommended salary be granted.

A government sub-committee recognized issues in the salary structure and proposed solutions within six months, but progress has stalled. Stalin also condemned the government's reliance on parents to cover additional education costs, arguing it undermines the principles of a free education system.