– Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Programs were conducted at Kalmunai Al Asraq Vidyalaya and Ampara D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya to raise awareness among teachers of Grades 1 and 6 in the Kalmunai, Sammanthurai, and Ampara zones regarding educational reforms. Addressing principals at the event held at Ampara D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya, the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated that with the change in political authority, the people who expected broad transformation in every sector of the country also anticipated a profound change in the education system.
Despite challenges such as resource disparities, lack of infrastructure, and teacher shortages, we must appreciate the dedication and commitment shown so far to sustain the free education system gifted to us through the Kannangara vision. Educational administrators, principals, and teachers deserve continuous recognition and appreciation for their efforts, she emphasized.
At present, Sri Lanka has 10,097 schools, but intense academic competition is concentrated in only about 300 schools. The Minister pointed out that while some of these schools have classrooms with 50–60 students, in certain difficult rural areas, an entire school may have only 10–20 students, revealing a stark contrast between two extremes of inequality.
Dr. Amarasuriya further stated that the Government is strongly committed to eliminating these disparities by developing school infrastructure, addressing teacher shortages, and maintaining an optimal class size of 30–35 students to ensure the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process.
She added that, at a time when educational reforms are being implemented to bring about transformative change within the education system, it is the collective responsibility of everyone to ensure that no child or school is left behind, and that nurturing the next generation of leaders cannot be achieved by one person alone—it requires the cooperation and commitment of all.
Attending this event were Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment Wasantha Piyatissa, Members of Parliament Priyantha Wijerathne and Adambawa, along with provincial education officials.
Media Unit
