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English language should be a tool to broaden opportunities, not to widen social disparities – Prime Minister
Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that teaching English as a language should serve as a means to broaden opportunities, not as a tool to create social disparities, and the government is ready to implement practical English teaching approaches through the upcoming education reforms.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Sri Lanka Education Conference 2025, organized by the British Council in Colombo on Tuesday [June 3].
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for wide-ranging cooperation to build an inclusive and equitable education system aligned with future needs. Therefore, the government is in need of the support of national and provincial government officials, Ministry of Education representatives, development partners, private sector stakeholders, teachers, and school leaders.
The primary goal of the new initiative is to ensure fair access to English education by creating opportunities for all students, fostering inclusivity, and promoting quality. Key aspects include empowering teachers and institutions, strengthening English-medium instruction, and enhancing digital tools for innovation and learning.
It must be brought to attention that how every student in Sri Lanka should be prepared for the advancing future. I strongly believe that we must move away from the mindset of ’being enslaved by the English language’ and instead promote it as a socially beneficial tool.
Learning the English language should be promoted as a means of expanding opportunities, not as a contributor to social disparities. It is important to ensure that access to English education is not determined by social class, geography, or family background, and should ensure that everyone is provided with equal opportunities.
The government plans to introduce new education reforms in 2026, and within them, English language will not merely be treated as an exam subject. Instead, students will be encouraged to actively use the language through speaking and writing skills.
It is important that the teachers also play an active role in reducing students’ anxiety around language use, and students should be encouraged to understand that being understood by others or foreigners is sufficient when speaking English. The assessment methods for English should also be revised. These aspects are considered key components of the upcoming education reforms.
Plans are also in place to strengthen teacher education systems, enhance pre-service and in-service training, modernize curricula, and implement continuous professional development programs to equip teachers for delivering the new syllabi effectively.
Given the increasing demand for English-medium education, the government aims to expand the number of English-medium schools from 825 to at least 1,000. Additionally, steps are being taken to increase the number of bilingual teachers and provide training to those already in service.
Digital technology is rapidly transforming the teaching and learning landscape. However, disparities still exist between students who have unlimited access to these tools and those who cannot afford any. Bridging this digital divide is a key responsibility of the government and is a focus of the new education reforms. The government is ready to train teachers in the use of the latest technological tools to ensure students have equal access to them.
The Prime Minister further emphasized the need to be mindful of the risks in the digital world and reiterated that delivering quality education to schoolchildren through new education reforms requires collective support from all sectors.
The event was attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwawala and the respective officials of the Ministry, representatives of the British Council, language scholars, teachers, and a large number of schoolchildren.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Building on its success in seizing major narcotic stocks in 2025, the Navy continued to support the “A Nation United” National Mission in 2026. In continuation of these efforts, during an
operation conducted on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended eleven (11) suspects aboard two local multi-day fishing trawlers suspected of drug smuggling.
Based on shared information, by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, this special operation was conducted off the southern coast, deploying the Navy‟s Offshore Patrol Vessels. The operation
resulted in the interception of a multi-day fishing trawler suspected of smuggling narcotics, and the apprehension of five (05) suspects on board.
During further operations in the same area, naval units seized another multi-day fishing trawler (01), along with communication equipment and six (06) additional suspects, also believed to be involved in drug smuggling.
This morning (25 Jan 26), the two intercepted fishing trawlers, along with fourteen (14) sacks laden with suspected narcotics and the suspects, were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour.
An expert examination by the Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed that the fourteen (14) sacks contained more than 184 kilograms of heroin and over 112 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine).
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, inspected the narcotics at the Dikovita harbour.
The Deputy Minister of Defence said that the current administration has initiated several projects for national development. As a flagship initiative, under the directives and guidance of the President, and under the supervision of the
Ministry of Defence, well-coordinated anti-narcotic raids have been launched.
This effort, part of “A Nation United” National Mission, involves the tri-forces, police, and all intelligence agencies working together under a coordinated plan to ensure that drug smugglers have no opportunity to bring narcotics into the country, he opined. He further stated that despite the national disaster situation, the state machinery, including the tri-forces, the police, and the public at large, remains united in rebuilding the nation, no room will be left for drug trafficking, which poses a severe threat to national security and public safety. Those
who engage in or support drug trafficking, under the cover of fishing activities, will find no escape, he added.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed that the tri-forces, police, and all law enforcement agencies are fully committed to their duty of suppressing this menace.
The Deputy Minister of Defence reported that, throughout 2025, a series of highly successful operations were conducted leading to numerous arrests. This was achieved through close coordination and mutual cooperation among the tri-services, the police, the Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Bureau, local law enforcement and international agencies. He noted that this
same spirit of cooperation and commitment has continued into 2026, resulting in the seizure of a large stockpile of drugs.
On behalf of the Honourable President, he extended gratitude to all who contributed to these efforts, specifically acknowledging the Commander of the Navy, the Inspector General of Police, the Police Narcotic Bureau, and the crews of the Navy’s Offshore
Patrol Vessels.
Moreover, the Deputy Minister declared that drug smuggling has become a national crisis, fueled by youth involvement and social crime. With borders secured under the “Nation United” National Mission, he warned traffickers to cease operations and urged users to abandon the destructive habit.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to report suspected drug smugglers to law enforcement via the hotlines 1818 or 1997 and also commended the role of media institutions and journalists in raising public awareness about the dangers of narcotics through responsible reporting.
Meanwhile, the two (02) multi-day fishing trawlers, along with a haul of narcotics, eleven (11) suspects, and communication equipment, were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for
further investigation and legal proceedings.
Tanzania 131 in 38.3 overs (Acrey Pascal 55; Nihar Parmar 4-30, Nikhil Pol 3-23) lost to Japan 136/1 in 28.2 overs (Nihar Parmar 53*, Taylor Waugh 47) by nine wickets
[Cricbuzz]
New Zealand 135 in 36.2 overs (RS Ambrish 4-29, Henil Patel 3-23) lost to India 130/3 in 13.3 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 40, Ayush Mhatre 53) by 7 wickets [DLS Method]
[Cricbuzz]
Navy intercepts 02 narcotics-laden trawlers with 11 suspects in southern seas
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