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The Government is taking steps to regulate early childhood education to ensure quality education while enhancing the professionalism of preschool teachers. — PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government is taking steps to maintain early childhood education within an appropriate regulatory framework, while ensuring quality education by enhancing the professionalism of preschool teachers.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the awareness programme for preschool teachers of the Puttalam District on the National Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework, held under the theme “A Safe World for Children, A Creative Future Generation” on Friday [16th of January] at the Sudasuna Hall in Chilaw.
The Prime Minister stated,
“The main objective of our government in 2024 was to bring about a transformative change in this country. We bear a major responsibility in achieving that transformation. When we assumed office, one of our primary responsibilities was to build a stable and resilient economy. However, I believe that with equal responsibility and commitment, our government has prioritized creating a transformative change in the education system of the country. We assumed office with that objective in mind. The discussions within our party and political movement on the necessary changes in education did not begin recently. They are the result of a long-standing process.
This transformation cannot be achieved overnight or within a single year. It is a step-by-step process. When implementing this decisive and qualitative change within the education system, it is essential to consider the system as a whole. We made this intervention by examining every stage of a child’s educational journey. Therefore, we have recognized early childhood education, from age one to age five, as an integral part of education and development.
Thereby, Early childhood development is viewed as the very first step of our education structure. At present, early childhood education exists in an unregulated manner. Our aim is to develop this early childhood education in an organized and systematic way, while enhancing the professionalism of teachers and ensuring quality education within an appropriate regulatory framework.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Ministry of Education have jointly appointed a committee and initiated discussions to formulate a policy and curriculum framework for early childhood education. During the past year, we developed the preschool curriculum framework. We are working towards implementing a unified curriculum across all preschools in a structured manner. It is essential to integrate early childhood development with primary, secondary, and university education. Early childhood development is one of the most critical stages of an individual’s life. The responsibility of socializing the child, introducing them to society in a structured manner, and nurturing a disciplined, empathetic individual lies with you. This is not something that can be achieved at the primary level or beyond.
There is a common criticism that children are not taught letters and numbers at preschool. However, early childhood development is not about formal schooling. It is about helping children to develop their social skills.
It is also an objective of our government to ensure that both preschools and schools become places where parents can confidently leave their children, knowing they are safe.
We are aware of the issues relating to your allowances and pensions. Discussions have been held in this regard between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. Granting due recognition to preschool certificates during school admissions is also very important, and the government’s attention has been drawn to all these matters”.
The event was attended by Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government prof. Chandan Abayarathna; Members of Parliament Gayan Janaka, Hiruni Wijesinghe, and Mohamed Faisal; officials of the North Western Province Early Childhood Education Development Authority; and a large number of preschool teachers from the Puttalam District.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.
Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.
The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.
Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.attended the meeting.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Latest News
Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka
Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 03.00 pm on 18 February 2026
Multiday boats fishermen and naval community are warned that the low-pressure area still persists over the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. Under the influence of this system, heavy showers or thundershowers, Strong winds about (50-60) kmph, and rough or very rough seas can be expected in these sea areas.
The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.
The naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
Canada, said to be the home to the largest Tamil Diaspora community, has expressed concern over the delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin, on Monday (16), took up the issue with Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne.
Sources quoted Prof. Abayaratne as having told the Canadian HC that the delay was not deliberate on the part of the government. The Minister blamed, what the sources called, certain legal, technical and delimitation issues for the delay.
India compelled Sri Lanka to enact the 13th Amendment to the country’s Constitution to enable the setting up of the Provincial Council system, in line with the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which Sri Lanka signed under duress in July 1987.
Prof. Abayaratne has assured the Canadian HC that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, recognised the importance of strengthening the Provincial Council system as a solution to ethnic issues and that urgent steps would be taken in that regard.
During the discussion, matters relating to strengthening political, economic and social relations between the two countries were discussed.
In May 2020, Canada declared that Sri Lanka had perpetrated genocide during the war against the LTTE. Canada also sanctioned former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2023 over alleged war crimes.
The Canadian HC also explained her country’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy and how Sri Lanka could benefit from it.
In particular, Canada’s “Pathways to Peace” project will support reconciliation between nations, and to improve communication by encouraging the learning of mutual languages as a second language, and it was also agreed to provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher studies in Canada.
The Canadian delegation also expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical assistance to solve the drinking water problems in Puttalam, Mannar and the North-Eastern provinces under technical cooperation, and to implement the relevant projects after a preliminary study.
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