Features

Evolution of Sri Lanka’s Educational Reforms From Kannangara to Dhammika Perera

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/20

By Anushka Kahandagamage, University of Otago, New Zealand

This essay is about how our politicians look at educational reforms. The positions of two of the key characters mentioned in this essay have now radically changed. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled the country amidst a popular uprising and Dhammika Perera has resigned his ministerial position in the same context. But the way these once powerful people looked at education should be taken seriously when imagining the future.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently stated that educational reforms should be introduced to create ‘good citizens productive to economy’. It is ironic that the President, who has been hiding from the public for several months, has suddenly come out and made remarks on educational reforms. When discussing the aim of the educational reforms proposed by the president ‘to create good citizens productive to economy,’ it is difficult to overlook the massive non-violent protest that has been going on for several months, primarily demanding the President to resign.

The country’s economic catastrophe is not the result of education. Instead, it is due to the state’s short-sighted economic and political decisions — it is erroneous to label these actions as policies. In this context, what kind of an ‘economy’ is the president referring to? Is it the economy which is in crisis? The ‘economy’ about which the president talked about is an economy in which schoolchildren have died due to pharmaceutical shortages; it’s an economy where people die in gasoline lines; and it’s an economy where mothers have tossed their children into rivers because they cannot provide for them. It’s a different matter that the president is silent on these outcomes of this ‘economy.’

Amidst the present crisis, the President saw Dhammika Perera, who is a prominent entrepreneur in the country as a saviour who could deliver the country out of this crisis, and appointed him as a member of parliament and a Cabinet Minister with a developmentalist portfolio. After few days of this appointment, Perera came up with a proposal, Economic Growth Strategy and Action Plan. As per this action plan, Perera envisions Sri Lanka to miraculously become a developed nation by 2030. The action plan consists of 25 sectors including education. In this short essay, my focus will be on Dhammika Perera’s educational reforms proposal, which was presented in bullet points.

From a Committee to a ‘Show’ by a Single Businessman

The Kannangara report of 1943, which provided the groundwork for the country’s free education system, goes into great details about education’s ‘autonomy’. The committee that came up with the report highlights the significance of having an independent entity to manage free education. The group proposes that education, from basic to secondary, be autonomous and independent from external influences.

In the very least, the committee was aware of the dangers of putting education in the hands of the wrong people. The committee recognised the link between democracy and free education, and proposed that education remain under the discretion of the people. Today, after about 80 years, Sri Lanka relies on one businessperson to reform the nation’s education system as per his will, where he proposes to change the education to achieve DGP growth.

Bullet Point Education Reforms

In the Kannangara report, the committee presented a rationale for each recommendation. Every heading had a lengthy and detailed explanation on why that specific proposal was made, how the committee arrived at that particular decision, and how it would contribute to creating a complete human being. The report recognized its shortcomings, and in places problematized its own decisions, leaving them to be finetuned after further debates. On the other hand, Dhammika Perera who suddenly emerged as the nation’s saviour, introduced a bullet-pointe document on the country’s education reforms, as some kind of a ‘universal truth’ on education, which all of us are supposed to accept. The suggestions are weak and inadequate by any serious standard with no explanation or rationale, and with no broader vision other than the imagined growth of the GDP. Perera’s bullet point education reforms have reduced human potential to a simple and simplistic understanding of the GDP, challenging the very nature of evolving and progressing humans.

While the Kannangara committee was a process that began in 1936 and ended in 1947, the Perera reforms only took few days to be on paper. It seems to have emerged out of magic rather than through reflection and research. The nation’s education system has been so carelessly placed in the hands of a single business person with a dubious track record who took only a few days to pitch his education privatization agenda to the public, and present it in a modern virtual space with the audio book option. That was supposed to make the whole skeletal package radically modern.

Reductionist View of Education and Market

The sole purpose of this education reform package is to develop the country’s GDP and in the process the entire human potential has been reduced to a simplistic GDP growth agenda. All possibilities of innovations, creations and critical thinking have been erased from the proposal while aiming to create technocrats who are experts in STEM education. The Perera education reforms and SLPP election manifesto share the same tone when it comes to education reforms. Trapped by discourses of employability, the government has constructed the economic crisis as a crisis of education, highlighting, in particular, the education system’s inability to create ‘skilled’ workers to contribute to the tenuous ‘knowledge economy.’ Yet, the SLPP manifesto, which guides education policy, presents education as the problem for which the sole solution is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Aligning with SLPP manifesto, thinking in similar lines, Dhammika Perera too propose STEM education as the solution to the country’s problem of ‘unemployability’. As per Perera’s proposal, the purpose of higher education is to produce a labour force for the market (which he assumes to be a static entity) and industries. Other than all the bullet point proposals which are decorative in nature, the essence of the reforms is to privatize education, which I won’t be touching upon in this essay.

Kannangara Committee to Dhammika Perera

It’s disheartening to see how far our country has tumbled down a regressive and uncreative road. In 1943, when the government of the time appointed the Kannangara Committee to introduce educational reforms, the committee consisted of 24 members and a secretary, who worked together for years to come up with their recommendations. All the members were from educational field, yet they all had various areas of competence. Dhammika Perera on the other hand, who is merely a single businessperson, only thinks about profit-making has suddenly become the education reformist for the country. And then, as if he is a magician with super human powers, he waves his magic wand and miraculously comes up with education reforms in couple of days, and that too in bullet points. To put it more simply, today, the country’s entire education system, which is heart of the nation, has become a prop piece in the hands of a clown.

The Inept Regime Should Step Down

Today, education reforms of our country have evolved into ‘show’ performed by a single businessman. Given his training and experience, Dhammika Perera can only apply business thinking to education. From this perspective, the purpose of education is only to draw foreign exchange into the country (with profits for investors of course!). Today, the country’s education system, which is the heart, the future and the conscience of the nation, has become a mere prop in a clown’s hand. Dhammika Perera and his proposals are symbolic of this regime, which has failed on every front, plunging the country into from one hell into another in quick succession. In the middle of the prevailing crises, the Rajapakse oligarchy sees Dhammika Perera, a shrewd businessman with connections to its family networks, as the sole solution to all the country’s ills. The inept Rajapakse regime, which jumps from one hasty move to another, should step down immediately as the minimum requirement to stop the country’s inevitable fall into the final abys from which it would be very difficult to reemerge even with the magic wand of Dhammika Perera.

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Features

Crucial test for religious and ethnic harmony in Bangladesh

Published

31 mins ago

2026/02/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

A political protest that led to governmental change in Bangladesh mid last year. (photograph: imago)

Will the Bangladesh parliamentary election bring into being a government that will ensure ethnic and religious harmony in the country? This is the poser on the lips of peace-loving sections in Bangladesh and a principal concern of those outside who mean the country well.

The apprehensions are mainly on the part of religious and ethnic minorities. The parliamentary poll of February 12th is expected to bring into existence a government headed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist oriented Jamaat-e-Islami party and this is where the rub is. If these parties win, will it be a case of Bangladesh sliding in the direction of a theocracy or a state where majoritarian chauvinism thrives?

Chief of the Jamaat, Shafiqur Rahman, who was interviewed by sections of the international media recently said that there is no need for minority groups in Bangladesh to have the above fears. He assured, essentially, that the state that will come into being will be equable and inclusive. May it be so, is likely to be the wish of those who cherish a tension-free Bangladesh.

The party that could have posed a challenge to the above parties, the Awami League Party of former Prime Minister Hasina Wased, is out of the running on account of a suspension that was imposed on it by the authorities and the mentioned majoritarian-oriented parties are expected to have it easy at the polls.

A positive that has emerged against the backdrop of the poll is that most ordinary people in Bangladesh, be they Muslim or Hindu, are for communal and religious harmony and it is hoped that this sentiment will strongly prevail, going ahead. Interestingly, most of them were of the view, when interviewed, that it was the politicians who sowed the seeds of discord in the country and this viewpoint is widely shared by publics all over the region in respect of the politicians of their countries.

Some sections of the Jamaat party were of the view that matters with regard to the orientation of governance are best left to the incoming parliament to decide on but such opinions will be cold comfort for minority groups. If the parliamentary majority comes to consist of hard line Islamists, for instance, there is nothing to prevent the country from going in for theocratic governance. Consequently, minority group fears over their safety and protection cannot be prevented from spreading.

Therefore, we come back to the question of just and fair governance and whether Bangladesh’s future rulers could ensure these essential conditions of democratic rule. The latter, it is hoped, will be sufficiently perceptive to ascertain that a Bangladesh rife with religious and ethnic tensions, and therefore unstable, would not be in the interests of Bangladesh and those of the region’s countries.

Unfortunately, politicians region-wide fall for the lure of ethnic, religious and linguistic chauvinism. This happens even in the case of politicians who claim to be democratic in orientation. This fate even befell Bangladesh’s Awami League Party, which claims to be democratic and socialist in general outlook.

We have it on the authority of Taslima Nasrin in her ground-breaking novel, ‘Lajja’, that the Awami Party was not of any substantial help to Bangladesh’s Hindus, for example, when violence was unleashed on them by sections of the majority community. In fact some elements in the Awami Party were found to be siding with the Hindus’ murderous persecutors. Such are the temptations of hard line majoritarianism.

In Sri Lanka’s past numerous have been the occasions when even self-professed Leftists and their parties have conveniently fallen in line with Southern nationalist groups with self-interest in mind. The present NPP government in Sri Lanka has been waxing lyrical about fostering national reconciliation and harmony but it is yet to prove its worthiness on this score in practice. The NPP government remains untested material.

As a first step towards national reconciliation it is hoped that Sri Lanka’s present rulers would learn the Tamil language and address the people of the North and East of the country in Tamil and not Sinhala, which most Tamil-speaking people do not understand. We earnestly await official language reforms which afford to Tamil the dignity it deserves.

An acid test awaits Bangladesh as well on the nation-building front. Not only must all forms of chauvinism be shunned by the incoming rulers but a secular, truly democratic Bangladesh awaits being licked into shape. All identity barriers among people need to be abolished and it is this process that is referred to as nation-building.

On the foreign policy frontier, a task of foremost importance for Bangladesh is the need to build bridges of amity with India. If pragmatism is to rule the roost in foreign policy formulation, Bangladesh would place priority to the overcoming of this challenge. The repatriation to Bangladesh of ex-Prime Minister Hasina could emerge as a steep hurdle to bilateral accord but sagacious diplomacy must be used by Bangladesh to get over the problem.

A reply to N.A. de S. Amaratunga

A response has been penned by N.A. de S. Amaratunga (please see p5 of ‘The Island’ of February 6th) to a previous column by me on ‘ India shaping-up as a Swing State’, published in this newspaper on January 29th , but I remain firmly convinced that India remains a foremost democracy and a Swing State in the making.

If the countries of South Asia are to effectively manage ‘murderous terrorism’, particularly of the separatist kind, then they would do well to adopt to the best of their ability a system of government that provides for power decentralization from the centre to the provinces or periphery, as the case may be. This system has stood India in good stead and ought to prove effective in all other states that have fears of disintegration.

Moreover, power decentralization ensures that all communities within a country enjoy some self-governing rights within an overall unitary governance framework. Such power-sharing is a hallmark of democratic governance.

Features

Celebrating Valentine’s Day …

Published

33 mins ago

2026/02/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love, romance, and affection, and this is how some of our well-known personalities plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day – 14th February:

Merlina Fernando (Singer)

Yes, it’s a special day for lovers all over the world and it’s even more special to me because 14th February is the birthday of my husband Suresh, who’s the lead guitarist of my band Mission.

We have planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day and his Birthday together and it will be a wonderful night as always.

We will be having our fans and close friends, on that night, with their loved ones at Highso – City Max hotel Dubai, from 9.00 pm onwards.

Lorensz Francke (Elvis Tribute Artiste)

On Valentine’s Day I will be performing a live concert at a Wealthy Senior Home for Men and Women, and their families will be attending, as well.

I will be performing live with romantic, iconic love songs and my song list would include ‘Can’t Help falling in Love’, ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Burning Love’, ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’, ‘The Wonder of You’ and ‘’It’s Now or Never’ to name a few.

To make Valentine’s Day extra special I will give the Home folks red satin scarfs.

Emma Shanaya (Singer)

I plan on spending the day of love with my girls, especially my best friend. I don’t have a romantic Valentine this year but I am thrilled to spend it with the girl that loves me through and through. I’ll be in Colombo and look forward to go to a cute cafe and spend some quality time with my childhood best friend Zulha.

JAYASRI

Emma-and-Maneeka

This Valentine’s Day the band JAYASRI we will be really busy; in the morning we will be landing in Sri Lanka, after our Oman Tour; then in the afternoon we are invited as Chief Guests at our Maris Stella College Sports Meet, Negombo, and late night we will be with LineOne band live in Karandeniya Open Air Down South. Everywhere we will be sharing LOVE with the mass crowds.

Kay Jay (Singer)

I will stay at home and cook a lovely meal for lunch, watch some movies, together with Sanjaya, and, maybe we go out for dinner and have a lovely time. Come to think of it, every day is Valentine’s Day for me with Sanjaya Alles.

Maneka Liyanage (Beauty Tips)

On this special day, I celebrate love by spending meaningful time with the people I cherish. I prepare food with love and share meals together, because food made with love brings hearts closer. I enjoy my leisure time with them — talking, laughing, sharing stories, understanding each other, and creating beautiful memories. My wish for this Valentine’s Day is a world without fighting — a world where we love one another like our own beloved, where we do not hurt others, even through a single word or action. Let us choose kindness, patience, and understanding in everything we do.

Janaka Palapathwala (Singer)

Janaka

Valentine’s Day should not be the only day we speak about love.

From the moment we are born into this world, we seek love, first through the very drop of our mother’s milk, then through the boundless care of our Mother and Father, and the embrace of family.

Love is everywhere. All living beings, even plants, respond in affection when they are loved.

As we grow, we learn to love, and to be loved. One day, that love inspires us to build a new family of our own.

Love has no beginning and no end. It flows through every stage of life, timeless, endless, and eternal.

Natasha Rathnayake (Singer)

We don’t have any special plans for Valentine’s Day. When you’ve been in love with the same person for over 25 years, you realise that love isn’t a performance reserved for one calendar date. My husband and I have never been big on public displays, or grand gestures, on 14th February. Our love is expressed quietly and consistently, in ordinary, uncelebrated moments.

With time, you learn that love isn’t about proving anything to the world or buying into a commercialised idea of romance—flowers that wilt, sweets that spike blood sugar, and gifts that impress briefly but add little real value. In today’s society, marketing often pushes the idea that love is proven by how much money you spend, and that buying things is treated as a sign of commitment.

Real love doesn’t need reminders or price tags. It lives in showing up every day, choosing each other on unromantic days, and nurturing the relationship intentionally and without an audience.

This isn’t a judgment on those who enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day. It’s simply a personal choice.

Melloney Dassanayake (Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024)

I truly believe it’s beautiful to have a day specially dedicated to love. But, for me, Valentine’s Day goes far beyond romantic love alone. It celebrates every form of love we hold close to our hearts: the love for family, friends, and that one special person who makes life brighter. While 14th February gives us a moment to pause and celebrate, I always remind myself that love should never be limited to just one day. Every single day should feel like Valentine’s Day – constant reminder to the people we love that they are never alone, that they are valued, and that they matter.

I’m incredibly blessed because, for me, every day feels like Valentine’s Day. My special person makes sure of that through the smallest gestures, the quiet moments, and the simple reminders that love lives in the details. He shows me that it’s the little things that count, and that love doesn’t need grand stages to feel extraordinary. This Valentine’s Day, perfection would be something intimate and meaningful: a cozy picnic in our home garden, surrounded by nature, laughter, and warmth, followed by an abstract drawing session where we let our creativity flow freely. To me, that’s what love is – simple, soulful, expressive, and deeply personal. When love is real, every ordinary moment becomes magical.

Noshin De Silva (Actress)

Valentine’s Day is one of my favourite holidays! I love the décor, the hearts everywhere, the pinks and reds, heart-shaped chocolates, and roses all around. But honestly, I believe every day can be Valentine’s Day.

It doesn’t have to be just about romantic love. It’s a chance to celebrate love in all its forms with friends, family, or even by taking a little time for yourself.

Whether you’re spending the day with someone special or enjoying your own company, it’s a reminder to appreciate meaningful connections, show kindness, and lead with love every day.

And yes, I’m fully on theme this year with heart nail art and heart mehendi design!

Wishing everyone a very happy Valentine’s Day, but, remember, love yourself first, and don’t forget to treat yourself.

Sending my love to all of you.

Features

Banana and Aloe Vera

Published

34 mins ago

2026/02/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

To create a powerful, natural, and hydrating beauty mask that soothes inflammation, fights acne, and boosts skin radiance, mix a mashed banana with fresh aloe vera gel.

This nutrient-rich blend acts as an antioxidant-packed anti-ageing treatment that also doubles as a nourishing, shiny hair mask.

* Face Masks for Glowing Skin:

Mix 01 ripe banana with 01 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel and apply this mixture to the face. Massage for a few minutes, leave for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off for a glowing complexion.

* Acne and Soothing Mask:

Mix 01 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel with 1/2 a mashed banana and 01 teaspoon of honey. Apply this mixture to clean skin to calm inflammation, reduce redness, and hydrate dry, sensitive skin. Leave for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with warm water.

* Hair Treatment for Shine:

Mix 01 fresh ripe banana with 03 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and 01 teaspoon of honey. Apply from scalp to ends, massage for 10-15 minutes and then let it dry for maximum absorption. Rinse thoroughly with cool water for soft, shiny, and frizz-free hair.