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Educators slam govt. for ‘unprepared’ education reforms

Published

6 months ago

2025/12/31

Teachers, principals and education professionals have said the government is unprepared to roll out proposed education reforms scheduled to take effect from next week, and warned of nationwide trade union action if the plans are implemented without adequate consultation and preparation.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, President of the Association of Education Professionals, Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera, said Ministry officials had indicated that the reforms would be implemented from Monday, 05 January, but claimed that the vast majority of educators were opposed to the move.

“More than 90 percent of teachers say they have not received proper training on the new syllabus or the proposed reforms,” Ven. Sumangala Thera said. He alleged that the government was attempting to suppress opposition from teachers and principals by declaring school holidays, instead of addressing their concerns.

“If the government continues with these tactics, we will have no option but to resort to trade union action at a national level,” he warned.

Meanwhile, representatives of 16 teachers’ and principals’ unions who visited the Ministry of Education at Isurupaya on Monday to seek clarification on the reforms were turned away by security officials, reportedly on the grounds that prior appointments were required.

Speaking to the media outside the Ministry, Amila Sandaruwan of the Teacher Principals’ Collective said the delegation had attempted to raise their concerns during the Public Day allocated for visitors. “We wanted to know how these reforms are to be implemented and sought to meet the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, but we were barred,” he said.

Sandaruwan accused the Government of proceeding in an “adamant” manner and claimed the reforms were being driven by a handful of non-governmental organisations closely associated with senior ministry officials. “We will not allow this to happen,” he said.

Graded Principals’ Association representative Nimal Mudunkotuwa said widespread confusion prevailed among teachers and school administrators regarding the practical aspects of implementing the reforms. “There is no clarity on school hours—whether schools are to close at 1.30 p.m. as before, or continue until 2.00 p.m. as proposed,” he said.

He added that uncertainty also remained over the number of daily teaching periods, with conflicting statements suggesting either seven or eight periods. “Schools have yet to receive syllabus modules from the Ministry, and many schools lack smart boards and internet connectivity required to implement these reforms,” Mudunkotuwa said.

Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera strongly criticised the proposed reforms, describing them as “bastard reforms,” and accused the NPP Government of undermining the education system. He also raised objections to a unit in the proposed Grade Six English syllabus dealing with gay and lesbian relationships, claiming that senior Buddhist prelates, the Catholic Cardinal and other religious leaders had opposed its inclusion.

“The Government refuses to listen even to religious leaders,” he said.

Concerns were also raised at a National Sangha Council meeting held in Colombo on Monday evening at the Colombo Foundation Institute, organised to discuss the objectives of the proposed reforms. Addressing the gathering, Professor Venerable Induragare Dhammaratana Thera said the reforms required extensive discussion, consultation with subject experts and consideration of the experience of senior administrators.

He warned that the proposed changes could trigger the biggest crisis currently facing the country. “Implementing these reforms in this manner will harm future generations and could even destroy the present Government,” he said, likening the process to “forcing a round peg into a square hole.”

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Sri Lankan singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke passes away at the age of 68

Published

23 mins ago

2026/07/10

Priyan

(Pic facebook)

It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68

She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

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Sallay’s wife further complains to HRC over continuing violation of husband’s FRs by CID

Published

3 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay has lodged a further complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), alleging that her husband’s fundamental rights continue to be violated as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers prevent him from having confidential consultations with his lawyer while he is under detention at the National Hospital.

In a letter addressed to the HRCSL Chairman on Thursday, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay has said the latest complaint was filed in relation to an earlier complaint concerning the detention and treatment of her husband.

Full text of the letter: I, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, respectfully write to lodge this further complaint in relation to my earlier complaint bearing reference H RC-HO-1 103-26, concerning the detention and treatment of my husband, Retired Major General Suresh Sallay.

I wish to bring to the attention of the Commission a further serious violation of his fundamental rights that occurred on 08 July 2026 during a consultation between my husband and his Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Asith Siriwardena, while my husband remains under detention and is receiving treatment at the National Hospital.

I am informed by his Counsel that he is presently permitted to consult with my husband only once a week for a period of approximately twenty minutes. During the consultation held on 08 July 2026, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stationed at the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit of the National Hospital informed Counsel that they had received instructions from higher authorities that my husband should not be permitted to meet with his

legal counsel in private. Consequently, the officers remained present throughout the consultation and refused to permit a confidential lawyer-client meeting.

This conduct constitutes a grave infringement of my husband’s fundamental right to communicate privately and confidentially with his legal counsel. Confidential communication between an accused or detainee and his lawyer is an indispensable safeguard of the right to legal representation, the right to prepare his defence, and the right to a fair trial. The denial of confidential legal consultations undermines these fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the applicable provisions governing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and client is also a well-recognized principle under international human rights law and forms an essential safeguard against arbitrary detention, coercion, and unfair legal proceedings.

In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to urgently intervene and take all necessary steps within its statutory mandate to:

1. Ensure that my husband is afforded immediate and unrestricted confidential access to his legal counsel without the presence or supervision of law enforcement officers;

2. Inquire into the instructions allegedly issued by higher authorities requiring CID officers to remain present during lawyer-client consultations;

3. Direct the relevant authorities to cease any practice that interferes with confidential legal consultations; and

4. Take such further action as the Commission considers appropriate to safeguard my husband’s constitutional and human rights.

This complaint is made as a further complaint to Complaint No. H RC-HO-1103-26, and I respectfully request that it be placed on the same file and considered together with my previous complaints.

I respectfully seek the Commission’s urgent intervention in this matter.

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SC upholds Commercial HC ruling that Weerawansa violated intellectual property rights of JVP

Published

3 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The Supreme Court yesterday (9) upheld a Colombo Commercial High Court order directing former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva for violating intellectual property rights.

A three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed in its entirety an appeal filed by Weerawansa challenging the earlier Commercial High Court ruling.

The case was instituted by Silva, who alleged that Weerawansa had violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Act by publishing his book “Neththa Wenuwata Aththa” (“Truth Instead of Lies”), which contained the JVP’s political ideology and official party documents without authorisation.

The Supreme Court also affirmed the order restraining the publication and distribution of the book in its existing form. However, the court ruled that the book could be republished if the 60-page section identified as infringing intellectual property rights was removed.