Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa criticized the opposition and certain media outlets over their stance on the government’s stalled education reforms.
Responding to a question from journalists on whether the reforms could be implemented this year, Jayatissa accused some television channels of promoting the views of opposition MPs — including Dilith Jayaweera, Sajith Premadasa, Namal Rajapaksa and Wimal Weerawansa — to create the perception that reforms posed a threat to children.
“It was not balanced at 50/50,” he said. “Some channels created this perception. Sajith Premadasa was lamenting highlighting the 150 alleged errors in the reforms and focused on the ‘dot net’ issue, claiming the reforms were not suitable for children. Even today, he uses his MPs to organize demonstrations against them.”
Jayatissa urged journalists to examine the proportion of their coverage that opposed the reforms, saying, “You have to see whether your channels reflected public opinion at the time.”
He said reforms could not be implemented for Grade 6 students in a context where public demonstrations are being amplified beyond their actual scale. However, he confirmed that reforms for Grade 1 students would proceed on Jan. 29, adding that the government is committed to moving forward with the process.
“If someone now says to implement the reforms after having opposed them, they must have a justifiable reason,” he said. “Many of these issues could be resolved if a no-confidence motion is brought. That would be decisive.”
Jayatissa also said the opposition leader and MPs must take consistent positions on education, calling it a sensitive issue that requires clear justification for any change in stance.
He acknowledged the concerns of parents, saying their demands are fair, but stressed that reforms can only be implemented when there is clarity and confidence in the process. (Newswire)