Education Minister, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, says educational reform is not merely about the introduction of a new textbook, but a transformation of the entire system. 

Elaborating on the proposed new education reforms, the PM said the National People’s Power (NPP) has long advocated within its political movement for an education system that does not burden children, parents, or teachers. 

“These educational reforms are not merely about the introduction of a new textbook, but a transformation of the entire system. There are several major issues within the current system, especially the pressure placed on children by the exam-centred structure, the resultant stress on parents, and the demanding social consequences created by the competitive nature of the system. We aim to address all these through this educational reform,” she said.

PM Amarasuriya said that although past governments have frequently discussed education and identified existing problems, many issues were created as a result of their own political cultures, pointing out that education was often exploited to enforce narrow political agendas.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a panel discussion held under the theme “For a Prosperous Nation – Let’s Unite as Women”, organized by the Ratnapura District Women’s Collective of the NPP, on Saturday (26).

Addressing the gathering, PM Harini Amarasuriya said, “In the Ratnapura District alone, how many so-called ‘National Schools’ are there where only the name board was changed, without any real improvement? Politicians used their power to open buildings bearing their names while ignoring the actual quality of education provided to children, and this exhibitionist approach caused great harm.”

The Education Minister pointed out that past governments have gradually reduced the national education budget, transferring the financial burden onto parents.

“Instead of investing in developing the professional status and human capital of teachers and educational administrators, they have prioritised activities that damaged the human resources. Although past administrations discussed educational reforms, they failed to allocate the necessary resources, including qualified human capital, infrastructure, and funding, to truly transform the system. As a result, no meaningful changes materialised.

“We are now engaging in a well-structured public dialogue. We are preparing the system and shaping the necessary shifts in societal attitudes. Everything we are doing is directed toward meaningful social change. Therefore, it is your responsibility to expand this dialogue within society,” she emphasized.

Also addressing members of the Ratnapura District Women’s Collective of the NPP, Prime Minister Amarasuriya invited all participants to become messengers of this national conversation, a conversation aimed at making Sri Lanka an academically advanced nation, building a cultured society within it, and developing an economy capable of competing on the global stage.

The panel discussion was attended by Ratnapura District NPP MP  Nilusha Lakmali, Mayor of Ratnapura Indrajith Katugampola, and many municipal and local council members of the NPP from the Ratnapura District, along with a large number of NPP activists.