The Prime Minister stated that the objective of the government is to use data and policy to provide what is best for children. Political interests or any other considerations are not important to us; what matters is, only the children.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in an inspection visit to Zahira Muslim College Puttalam on Saturday [17th of January], following the visits to schools affected by the recent cyclone Dithwah.

During her visit, the Prime Minister officially launched the school’s website, which was designed and developed by the students of Puttalam Zahira Muslim College.

Responding to views presented by the Principal regarding obtaining approval to commence the GCE Advanced Level Science stream at the school, the Prime Minister stated that children should be provided with knowledge not only in science, but across all subject areas. She emphasized that all schools within the district should work collaboratively toward this goal, and stressed that building a division in society is not the vision of the government.

The Prime Minister further highlighted the need to do what is best for children, requesting that proposals and decisions required for this purpose be discussed collectively at the school level and communicated to her. She noted that it is not possible to provide a comfortable and effective education for children by operating in isolation as individual schools, and reiterated that priority must always be given to the needs of children.

Addressing at the gathering, the Prime Minister stated:

“We are now experiencing the consequences of incorrect decisions taken in the past. However, we can now look into a positive present. Therefore, going forward, we must refrain from making decisions based on political or personal considerations. Instead we must cultivate the practice of making decisions for the well-being and happiness of all children.

It was also emphasized that, in order to nurture children with diverse talents and abilities, education should not be limited to a single subject stream, but should aim to develop children with an understanding across all fields”.

The occasion was attended by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna; Members of Parliament Gayan Janaka Kumara, Ajith Gihan, Mohamed Faisal, and Hiruni Wijesinghe; the Mayor of the Puttalam District; the Secretary of Education to the North Western Province; the Director of Education; and teachers.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]