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Education Reforms: Academics, activists condemn personal attacks on PM

Published

6 months ago

2026/01/16

“Reform process must expand and protect the right to free education”

A group of academics, professionals, and social activists yesterday issued a joint statement backing the government’s education reforms and condemning attacks on Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya by sections of the Opposition.

The statement described the attacks as hateful and indecent, warning that such conduct promotes misogyny, undermines women’s political leadership, and restricts space for constructive debate on urgently needed reforms.

Full text of the statement titled ‘Calling on the Government to Preserve the Credibility of Ongoing Education Reforms Amidst Vulgar and Hateful Propaganda’: We, the undersigned, are closely monitoring the educational reforms currently being rolled out by the government with the aim of designing a system of education to suit the future of the country, as well as the public discourse being created within society about those reforms by various parties. The attacks being directed at the Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya by certain opposition groups and individuals are not only hateful, indecent, and a disgrace to the moral values of any civilized society, they also normalise misogynistic attitudes that belittle progressive women’s political leadership and shrink the space needed for constructive engagement and a meaningful discourse on urgently needed education reforms.

It is widely acknowledged that our country requires an education system grounded in forward-looking principles, as articulated in the National People’s Power (NPP) Education Policy, which is now the government policy after the approval of an overwhelming majority of the people. As clearly established in the National People’s Power Education Policy, the new education system should view education not merely as a commodity but as a process for developing more advanced and civilized citizens through a progressive approach grounded in visionary leadership, ethics, integrity, social mobility, community participation, increased inclusion of diverse social groups, and effective communication.

We further emphasize that these reforms should aim at and be implemented in a manner that:

· ensures equal access to education for all segments of society.

· eliminates the severe disparities in the access to edutation among the privileged and underprivileged groups.

· affirms the state’s responsibility to provide education to all

· equips learners with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, practices, and values required to become mature and democratic citizens

· contributes to employment generation that meets changing social needs and enhances productivity.

· embraces cultural diversity and pluralism across all nationalities and communities.

· eliminates discrimination against any social group.

· promotes social, economic, and environmental well-being and quality of life.

· responds effectively to both global and local conditions.

Moreover, this reform process must expand and protect the right to free education for both present and future generations.

There is no doubt that such a far-reaching, transformative, and positive reform initiative is a serious undertaking that demands a high level of responsibility from all institutions within the education system.

However, the conduct of the National Institute of Education (NIE)—one of the key institutions entrusted with this responsibility—has raised serious concerns about the credibility of this agenda for transformation. Allegations related to editorial errors and problematic textbook content warrant careful and serious consideration. However, the delays and lapses in responsibility on the part of the National Institute of Education is deeply problematic. In this context, we urge the government to take the following steps to restore public confidence in this critical reform process:

1. Review the the new textbooks for Grades 1 to 6 as well as future text books to correct tgeir editorial errors and mistakes in content through an independent mechanism, separate from the NIE officials responsible for the current process. This requires maintaining mutual understanding through effective coordination among all institutions and government agencies responsible to lead and implement the transformation of the education system.

2. Restructure the National Institute of Education through a specially appointed committee, commission, or mechanism, following a comprehensive review of its role and performance in overseeing school education content.

3. During this period, conduct a more formal and inclusive dialogue on education reforms with relevant stakeholders including Teachers’ unions, based on the principles of the NPP Education Policy, while ensuring transparency and public accountability.

4. Allocate a substantial portion of the national budget to ensure that public expenditure on education reaches the target of 6% of GDP.

At the same time, the government must intervene decisively and with confidence, in line with how civilised socieites deal with these issues, without yielding to propagations that dehumanize and degrade sexuality and identity. The crude and hateful rhetoric propagated by certain groups run counter to the fundamental objective of educational reform: the development of a progressive and mature citizenry that respects all social identities. We remind the government that this transformative vision for education continues to receive strong support not only from the majority of the academic and professional community, but also from the broader public. This support remains steadfast for an educational system grounded in the principles outlined above—one that refuses to be derailed by the hateful, immoral, and uncultured conduct of a small minority.

Signatories of the statement are: Prof. Emeritus Jayadeva Uyangoda, Prof. Emeritus Jagath Weerasinghe, Prof. Anbahan Ariyadurai, Prof. Uthpala Jayawardena, Prof. Rohan Fernando, Prof. Prince Jayadevan, Dr. S. Arivalzahan, Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, Dr. N. Varathan, Sandun Thudugala (Law & Society Trust), Dr. Mariadas Alfred, Dr. Athulasiri Samarakoon, Senior Lecturer Saminathan Wimal, Dr. Dileepa Withrana, Dr. S. Selvaganesh, Vangeesa Sumanasekera (Colombo School of Philosophy), Eng. M. Sooriasegaram, Vidura Munasinghe (Attorney-at-Law), Dr. Amali Wedagedara, Senior Lecturer Janaha Selvaras, Dr. Thyagaraja Waradas, Sanjee Goonathilake (Social Activist), Dr. Visakesa Chandrasekaram, Senior Lecturer Sithumina Rathnamalala, Dr. Vivimarie Vander Poorten, Shreen Saroor (Social Activist), and Hiranyada Devasiri (Researcher)

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Cabinet Subcommittee on the Development of 25 Technical and Vocational Colleges meets under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister

Published

8 hours ago

2026/07/9

Priyan

The third meeting of the Cabinet Subcommittee appointed to oversee the development of 25 Technical and Vocational Colleges under the Department of Technical Education and Training was held today (09) at the Parliament Complex under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The meeting focused on the proposed development programme for the 25 Technical and Vocational Colleges as a key step towards expanding access to vocational education, implementing plans to strengthen infrastructure, and creating new pathways for technical and vocational education in Sri Lanka. Members held detailed discussions on the measures required to advance these objectives.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy, Anura Karunathilaka,the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Planning, Dr. Anil Jayantha, the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannilage, as well as senior officials from the Ministries of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Representatives of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) of Sri Lanka meet the Prime Minister

Published

8 hours ago

2026/07/9

Priyan

Representatives of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) of Sri Lanka met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday (08) at the Parliament premises.

During the discussion, the OPA representatives stated that the organization intends to establish a mechanism to provide direct professional advice to members of the public facing issues across various sectors. They also noted that OPA plans to implement special programmes to offer pre-advice and guidance through its member professional associations to people encountering issues in fields such as agriculture, construction, medicine, and law.

The Prime Minister commended the contribution made by professionals towards enhancing professional standards in the country and advancing national development. The Prime Minister further stated that the Government is ready to support efforts aimed at strengthening professionalism and fostering the sense of national service in the country.

The meeting was attended by the President of OPA, Vice President, and other office bearers of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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District Secretaries’ Conference Chaired by the President

Published

8 hours ago

2026/07/9

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Government plans to allocate a separate contingency fund for every district under the forthcoming Budget, enabling District Secretaries to carry out urgent repairs to bridges, roads and public buildings identified at District Coordination Committee meetings without having to wait for approval from the Central Government.

The President also emphasised that the Government’s foremost priority is to address the basic needs of the people without delay.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks while attending the District Secretaries’ Conference held this morning (09) at the Colombo District Secretariat.

The conference was convened with the objective of strengthening coordination among relevant stakeholders to ensure the more efficient and effective delivery of public services, while promoting district-level economic development by discussing local issues and identifying appropriate solutions.

The discussions also focused on reviewing the progress of district development projects, enhancing coordination between ministries and government institutions, identifying issues at the district level, proposing practical solutions, and assigning responsibilities and follow-up actions.

It was further emphasised that, in the interest of public safety, Divisional Secretaries should prevent people from resettling in areas identified as high-risk and refrain from approving basic utility services, including electricity and water, for such locations.

The President also reviewed the progress of efforts to establish a special authority with statutory powers to manage environmentally sensitive land in the Central Hills. It was noted that the relevant draft legislation has already been prepared and that the new authority is expected to commence operations next year.

The President further stressed that resolving the housing issues faced by war-displaced communities remains a Government priority, adding that plans are in place to resettle 13,000 war-displaced families during the coming year.

He also highlighted the need to systematically implement a programme to relocate people living in areas that are repeatedly affected by floods and landslides to safe and secure housing.

The President also drew attention to housing projects that had been initiated in an unplanned manner for various reasons, including political considerations, and subsequently abandoned midway. He stated that the Government intends to conduct a rapid survey to identify only those projects that are genuinely required by the public and implement a housing assistance programme to provide financial support for the completion of those houses.

The President further emphasised the importance of carrying out housing and other construction projects in accordance with a proper planning framework. He pointed out that numerous issues had arisen as a result of unplanned construction in the Southern Province and stressed that development in the Northern and Eastern Provinces should be undertaken in line with a systematic development plan.

He also noted that, while taking public needs into consideration, the Government is focusing on releasing privately owned land currently under the control of military camps. At the same time, attention is being given to making other large tracts of land available for investment. The President further stressed that, when allocating land for cultivation, measures must be taken to safeguard forest reserves and wildlife protection zones.

Reiterating the need for comprehensive public sector reforms to deliver a high-quality public service, the President stated that plans are in place to abolish non-productive institutions in order to improve the efficiency of the public service.

He further noted that steps have already been taken to fill vacancies in essential sectors, including health and education. The President also pointed out that measures are being taken to urgently fill vacancies in the Department of the Government Analyst in order to address delays in the issuance of Government Analyst reports, which have contributed to prison overcrowding.

Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Professor Chandana Abeyratne, Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief of Presidential Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Aloka Bandara, Ministry Secretaries, all District Secretaries, Heads of Departments and other senior government officials were also present.

[PMD]