First, three points must be stated clearly.
For years, no Sri Lankan government has treated education fairly. Education has been the only path for children from poor or marginalised communities to rise in society. Protecting free education and the right to education is essential — yet no government has done this properly.
Because of that history, many of us hoped that this government would at least strengthen free education and recognise it as a right. Instead, what we see is deeply disappointing: the same old problems, repeated in an even more careless and harmful way.
These so‑called “education reforms” were introduced without a white paper, without consultation, without transparency, and in a completely arbitrary manner. When examined closely, it becomes clear that these reforms are the same amendments drafted under the Ranil Wickremesinghe and Gotabaya Rajapaksa governments, re‑introduced without even correcting the name of the ministry on the documents. Despite the Minister’s claims of “rigorous discussion,” there is no evidence of such a process. This is negligence.
I ask the Prime Minister directly: Are you not concerned? Governments may rise and fall, but education must be protected. Free education is the only guarantee of equal opportunity. That is the core issue.
The current controversy over the Grade 6 English textbook is only a symptom of the larger crisis. Directing children to irrelevant, invalid, and inappropriate websites is not just a mistake — it is a sign of total irresponsibility. The deeper problem is the incompetence, negligence, and lack of accountability within the national education institutions. The same officials who created the crisis continue to run the system, unchanged and unsupervised. How can those who caused the problem be trusted to fix it?
There has been no reform, no oversight, no meaningful discussion. Textbooks are produced hastily, without expert review, without public dialogue, and without considering the needs of students or teachers. Education is our most valuable national asset — the foundation of justice, equality, and social mobility. Yet reforms continue only to secure a USD 200 million World Bank loan, repeating the same process used during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa era, still without a white paper.
Even the consultation list presented in the Minister’s own PowerPoint excludes teachers, trade unions, students, universities, and other key stakeholders. Only government departments and the private sector are included. This is a serious failure.
Meanwhile, political supporters try to defend the indefensible, and opponents exploit the issue. But education cannot be treated as political ammunition. These reforms cannot be rushed. Teacher training cannot happen under these conditions. The flawed textbooks must be withdrawn. The errors are basic, the links are wrong, and the process is broken.
University academics, members of the National Education Commission, and those on the governing board of the National Institute of Education must also take responsibility. Where is their oversight? Where is their accountability?
Edited and translated version of a speech by Dr. Arjuna Parakrama.