Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said Sri Lanka’s education system has fallen into a “tragic condition,” warning that the crisis extends far beyond the Grade 6 syllabus failure expected in 2026.
He made these remarks yesterday at the Opposition Leader’s Office during the establishment of the “Common Platform to Protect Free Education.”
Premadasa said while public attention has focused heavily on the Grade 6 syllabus issue, the problems facing the sector are far deeper and affect the entire education system, including schools, universities and tertiary education institutions.
He noted that the current crisis did not emerge overnight as a result of recent decisions, but has developed over time due to reforms being introduced without proper consultation, dialogue or a participatory process involving stakeholders.
The Opposition Leader stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive and sincere focus on education, calling for political agendas to be set aside. He said the rights of more than 4.1 million schoolchildren must be protected, including their entitlement to free school and university education.
Premadasa said Sri Lanka must ensure that education remains free, open and of high quality, warning that failure to do so would have long-term consequences for the country’s future. (Newswire)