Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the country’s mass media serves as a pioneering stakeholder in driving a national dialogue on the implementation of sweeping new educational reforms.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on October 14 while addressing a special briefing programme held at Temple Trees for electronic and print media heads. The event marked the official launch of the “RIES” (Reform Information & Enquiry Service) official website, established to communicate accurate and transparent information regarding the ongoing educational transformation to the public.

Citizens can now submit public inquiries and access reform details via the newly launched portal at https://edureformfact.moe.gov.lk.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister emphasized that the reforms extend far beyond simple curriculum adjustments, representing a fundamental overhaul of the entire education system. Noting that the first phase rolled out in Grade 1 this year (2026), she announced that the reforms will expand to the junior secondary level (Grade 6) in 2027, backed by rigorous teacher training, infrastructure upgrades and digitalization strategies.

“Even if our own children are not currently in the school system, the educational future of the nation’s children depends on this initiative,” Dr. Amarasuriya stated, urging stakeholders to foster a positive national conversation. “We may have different political ideologies, but it is vital that we do not use children’s education as a political battlefield.” she noted.

Delivering a keynote address at the event, Prof. Prabath Jayasinghe, Chairman of the Ministry’s Public Awareness Sub-Committee on Educational Reforms, outlined key structural shifts introduced by the framework. He explained that the system is moving away from rote learning and teacher centric models toward a student focused approach grounded in real world experiences.

The framework integrates the 21st-century skills matrix encompassing foundational literacy (technical, financial, media and scientific), interpersonal competencies such as critical thinking, and strong values. Furthermore, it establishes alternative learning pathways linking general, vocational, and tertiary education to ensure no student is left behind up to Grade 13, supported by continuous assessment methods that evaluate analytical and problem-solving abilities rather than relying solely on final examinations. (Eduwire)