Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Saturday reiterated the government’s commitment to building an education system that does not place a burden on parents or children, while working to eliminate long-standing inequalities between schools.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during inspection visits to Puttalam Velasiya Government College in Madurankuliya and Puttalam Zahira Muslim College on January 17, as part of a series of school visits in the district following the recent cyclone Dithwah.
At Puttalam Velasiya Government College, Dr. Amarasuriya laid the foundation stone for the construction of a long-awaited teachers’ quarters building and presented awards to students who had received All-Island honours. She said the era in which the quality of education was determined by the type, size, or location of a school had come to an end, adding that new education reforms would ensure equal access to technology, systematic teacher training, and a child-centred learning environment across all schools.
She noted that parents in Sri Lanka make significant sacrifices to provide their children with a quality education, and said the government fully recognises this commitment. The Prime Minister said the new reforms aim to remove both educational and social disparities, particularly between rural and urban schools, and to end the long-standing practice of labelling certain institutions as “remote schools.”
Dr. Amarasuriya also stressed that the country’s future development requires children with diverse skills across multiple sectors, adding that the necessary budgetary allocations to develop human resources in line with national policy have already been finalised.
Earlier in the day, during her visit to Puttalam Zahira Muslim College, the Prime Minister officially launched the school’s website, which was designed and developed by its students. She said the government’s focus is to use data and policy to deliver what is best for children, noting that political or personal interests must not influence decisions related to education.
Responding to requests to commence an Advanced Level Science stream at the school, Dr. Amarasuriya said education should not be limited to a single subject area, and urged schools within the district to work collaboratively rather than in isolation. She emphasised that decisions should be guided by the well-being and happiness of children, and not by divisions within society.
The Prime Minister said the country is currently facing the consequences of poor decisions made in the past, but stressed the importance of moving forward with policies that prioritise children’s holistic development and equal opportunities.
The visits were attended by Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, Members of Parliament representing the Puttalam District, provincial and zonal education officials, school principals, teachers, parents, and local authorities. (Newswire)