Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said Sri Lanka’s education system has fallen into a “tragic condition,” warning that the crisis extends well beyond the anticipated Grade 6 syllabus failure 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 noted that while public attention has largely focused on the Grade 6 syllabus issue, the challenges facing the education sector are far deeper, affecting schools, universities and other tertiary education institutions.
He emphasized that the current situation did not arise overnight or solely due to recent decisions, but is the result of reforms introduced over time without adequate consultation, dialogue or a participatory process involving key stakeholders.
Stressing the need for an urgent and genuine focus on education, Premadasa called on all parties to set aside political agendas. He said the rights of more than 4.1 million schoolchildren must be safeguarded, including their entitlement to free school and university education.
He added that Sri Lanka must ensure education remains free, accessible and of high quality, warning that failure to do so would have serious long-term consequences for the country’s future.
