Decisions must be made based on accurate data management to build an education system with equal opportunities for all.

Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated that as a government committed to ensuring the future of the nation’s children, it is essential to establish an education system in which every child can equally experience quality education. The Prime Minister emphasized that decisions must be made based on accurate data, sound policies, and technological evidence in order to achieve this goal.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the official launch of the first phase of the Human Resources Module of the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) and the pilot project of the e-Thaksalawa Learning Management System (LMS), held at Temple Trees on 6th of June 2026.

The National Education Management Information System has been developed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of human resource management and administration, which are among the five key pillars of the ongoing education reforms.

Previously, each province operated its own independent information systems, and through this new platform, it is expected to manage all information relating to both national and provincial schools under a single integrated system. Accordingly, the first phase, the Human Resources Module, was officially launched. Under this initial module, teacher transfers in the provinces of Sabaragamuwa, Western, Southern, and North Western will be managed through the system, with plans to expand it island-wide in due course.

The remaining modules to be introduced in the future are designed to facilitate comprehensive human resource management for all academic staff in schools.

This initiative has been implemented through the collaborative efforts of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Task Force on Digital Transformation in Education, provincial and zonal education authorities, technical teams, and the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Simultaneously, the pilot project of the e-Thaksalawa Learning Management System (LMS) was also launched, aiming to expand digital learning opportunities and enhance the teaching, learning, and assessment processes for students.

Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

Instead of allowing different sectors of the education system to function in isolation, we are integrating educational administration, the delivery of education, and educational content into a one framework. What we have embarked upon is by no means a minor undertaking.

Digitalisation is importance to our government. We must evolve and move forward with rapidly changing world. We believe that digitalisation is essential in order to deliver the public services more efficiently and transparently. In particular, the education reforms we will implement in the future require accurate data. Through the National Education Management Information System, we will be able to obtain reliable data while ensuring transparency and quality in education.

All national schools will be incorporated into this system in the near future. Teacher data from several provincial schools have already been entered. Through this platform, we expect to manage teacher recruitment, transfers, promotions, and other services related to the education sector in a transparent and efficient manner.

When digitalising public services, we must also nurture citizens with the knowledge and skills to use them. The primary responsibility for this lies with the education sector. That is why we have planned to build human capital through the e-Thaksalawa Learning Management System.

Digitalisation is not a substitute for teachers. Education is fundamentally besed on human relationship. No matter how much technology is available in classrooms, learning does not happen automatically. It is the teacher who engages directly with students. Therefore, digital technology should serve as a tool that empowers teachers and further enhances their importance.

By using digitalisation, we intend to address key challenges such as providing high-quality education to under-resourced schools, ensuring that every school benefits from the expertise of capable teachers, and creating educational opportunities for children with special needs. Our vision is to use digitalisation to nurture humane, enlightened citizens who are prepared for the future.

During the event, commemorative plaques were presented by the Prime Minister to officials representing the Sabaragamuwa, Eastern, and Uva Provinces, as well as to officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force, in recognition of their contribution to the development of the first phase of the National Education Management Information System.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, and Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy Waruna Sri Dhanapala, and Chief Secretaries of Provincial Councils, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Provincial Secretaries of Education, provincial education authorities, senior officials representing the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Ministry of Education, as well as members of the Task Force on the Digital Transformation of Education and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The ceremonial occasion of presenting the Sri Sannas Patra to the Most Venerable Panditha Walpola Vimalagnana Mahanayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Peliyagoda Gangaramaya and Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja, Dhammasenapathi, and Bhashanthara Visharada, conferring the title of Mahanayaka of the Ariyawansa Saddhamma Yukthika Chapter of the Maha Viharavanshika Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya, was held on June 06 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The ceremonial occasion was held under the patronage of the Most Venerable Karagoda Uyangoda Maithree Moorthi Nayaka Thero, Mahanayaka of the Maha Viharavanshika Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya. During the event, the Prime Minister formally presented the Sri Sannas Patra conferring the office of Mahanayaka upon the Most Venerable Walpola Vimalagnana Thero.

The occasion was graced by the presence of members of the Maha Sangha representing the three Nikayas, clergy of other faiths, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, distinguished invitees, and lay devotees.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Open University is the only university within the state higher education system that allows working people to enroll in higher education at any stage of their lives, and that the Government is committed to supporting and strengthening this institution.

The Prime Minister made these remarks during a discussion held on June 05 with the academic staff, administrative officers, and public officials at the Kurunegala Regional Centre of the Open University.

The meeting focused on finding permanent solutions to several issues faced by the Kurunegala Regional Centre for a long time of period, including the lack of adequate space. Discussions were held on allocating land for future expansion, as well as improving lecture halls, infrastructure, and sanitation facilities.

Addressing at the occasion, the Prime Minister stated:

If the land required to resolve the space constraints of the Open University has already been identified, we must move forward with planning the next steps. Attention should be given to securing the necessary funding and commencing the project without delay. The Open University is the only state university that allows working people to pursue higher education at any stage of their lives. Therefore, the Government is committed to supporting its development.

Speaking to the media afterwards, the Prime Minister also highlighted several ongoing education initiatives.

The Prime Minister noted that the Government officially launched its education digitalization programme today and emphasized that education reforms are progressing steadily. Preparations are underway to introduce curriculum reforms for Grade 6 and Grade 2 in 2027. The textbooks required for the second and third school terms under this year’s Grade 1 education reform have already been distributed, while teacher training programmes for next year are also being launched. The Prime Minister further stated that, following discussions with the Public Service Commission, approval has been granted to proceed with the Teacher Efficiency Bar Examinations, and the Government expects to resolve that issue within this year. The Prime Minister also announced that Cabinet approval has been received to address the salary anomalies affecting school principals, and that the Ministry is taking the necessary steps to implement the decision, thereby resolving an issue that principals have faced for many years.

The occasion was attended by the Kurunegala District Member of Parliament Dharmapriya Dissanayake and Members of Parliament, the Director of the Kurunegala Regional Centre of the Open University, Mr. Anushka Bandara, academic and administrative staff.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated that preschool education is considered the most critical stage in shaping a child’s future educational journey, and the government is committed to ensuring quality of Early Childhood Education. The Prime Minister further emphasized the need for proper supervision and monitoring of early childhood education programmes across all provinces.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a certificate awarding ceremony held on June 05 at the Kurunegala Provincial Council Auditorium for diploma holders of the 2023/2024 Preschool Teacher Training Diploma Programme conducted by the North Western Preschool Teacher Training College during her education inspection tour in the Kurunegala District.

The diploma awarding ceremony was jointly organized by the Early Childhood Education Development Authority and the North Western Provincial Council. The North Western Preschool Teacher Training College is one of Sri Lanka’s leading state training institutions dedicated to strengthening early childhood education, particularly within the North Western Province.

During the event, invited speakers briefed the newly qualified diploma holders on the Government’s policy direction regarding early childhood development.

Addressing the gathering after presenting diploma certificates to the Diploma Holders, the Prime Minister stated:

We are planning to establish stability in early childhood education over the next few years. In order to achieve this, we are working in collaboration with the National Education Commission, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, and the Ministry of Education to develop policies, standards for teacher training, and the regulatory mechanisms required for effective monitoring and implementation.

We are also making arrangements to commence preschool teacher training programmes this year. Through these efforts, we expect to introduce a common curriculum for preschools across the country by 2027. It is equally important to create a proper understanding within society about the purpose and value of preschool education.

The primary objective of preschool education is to prepare children for their future primary education. Therefore, preschool education should focus on developing essential skills such as motor abilities and other age-appropriate competencies.

As parents and adults, it is our responsibility to ensure the path for children to develop social skills and knowledge in ways that are suitable for their age, without placing unnecessary burdens on them. As preschool teachers, you play a significant role in communicating to society what we truly expect from early childhood education

The event was attended by the Governor of the North Western Province, Tissa Warnasuriya; Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Namal Sudarshana; Members of Parliament for the Kurunegala District, Dharmapriya Dissanayake and Ashoka Gunasekara; the Chief Secretary of the North Western Province; the Director and officials of the North Western Province Early Childhood Development Authority

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, stated that a main component of new educational reform process is to create a younger generation equiped with technology by empowering the school teaching and learning process with digital devices, and that a special program is being prepared to carry out this digitalization process based on student protection criteria and policies related to digitalization.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the national ceremony held at NW/Ibbagamuwa Kiribamuna Vidyalaya to hand over the smart boards given to secondary schools under the program to digitalize the education system, following an educational monitoring visit in the Kurunegala District on June 05.

This project was implemented to provide necessary smart board equipment to those schools identifying the secondary schools that do not possess smart boards across the island under the coordination of the Ministry of Education and the guidance of the Digital Task Force to the Prime Minister’s Office. Accordingly, 2890 smart boards have been provided to secondary schools across the country following the provisions of 1.6 billion rupees allocated by the Ministry of Digital Economy.

Further, under the project implemented by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, 1000 schools, and under the grants of the Republic of China, 500 schools, making a total of 4390 schools, have already been provided with smart boards.

On this occasion, the handing over of the Smart Board classroom received by Ibbagamuwa Kiribamuna Vidyalaya under the project to the students took place under the patronage of the Prime Minister. Following the distribution, the Prime Minister also observed the experience students gain when conducting educational activities using the smart boards.

The Prime Minister stated:

Today marks a special day. The provision of the smart boards is an ultimate moment where a certain victory has been achieved from a process that was carried out over a period of time. Our education reform agenda has been developed to encompass the border aspect of the education system. Our goal is to provide every student with equal access to quality education.

Accordingly, out of the 6215 schools with secondary grades existing in Sri Lanka today, 6084 schools have smart board facilities by now. Similarly, by the end of this year, we are also working to provide the necessary internet facilities for those schools and the digital equipment required for educational administrative work as well.

Likewise, we are taking steps to introduce a digital system to discharge educational administrative work efficiently, and it is expected to manage resources of the educational process through that process.

Education is not something decided only by textbooks and exam results. There are many criteria to measure the success of a school. The engagement of children, the respect between children and teachers, and that happiness that put on children’s faces are the best criteria. A school is a place that should be similar to a child’s family. Therefore, our attention should be focused on ensuring the safety of the children in schools.

Further, expressing views on the occasion of World Environment Day, the Prime Minister stated that bringing the country towards development through an eco-friendly path has become a main objective of the government, stating that the contribution made by the younger generation for that cause is immense.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Lands Mr. Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Mr. Namal Sudarshana, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, along with political and education authorities of the North Western Province and officials of the Ministry of Education.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The environment is the foundation of our livelihood. It is the responsibility of the government to bequeath a secure, prosperous, and green planet to future generations.

In line with the global theme, “Urgent Climate Action,” and guided by the vision of “A Sustainable Biosphere – An Evergreen Life,” Sri Lanka commemorates World Environment Day this year at a critical moment. Drawing lessons from the climate-related challenges we have recently experienced, special attention has been directed toward protecting the water catchment areas of the central highlands and restoring ecosystems.

Under the theme “Dalulanna Idadenna” ( Let it Bloom), the Ministry of Environment has organized a series of programmes across the island to mark World Environment Day. These initiatives include environmental conservation inspired by religious values, awareness programmes on climate change, the protection of the Diyawanna Oya, the development of infrastructure in the wildlife sector, the conservation of water resources, and the promotion of medicinal plant cultivation, and through these efforts,  it is evident that environmental conservation has evolved beyond a mere concept and become a practical and active commitment.

At this significant moment in our nation’s history, as more than 63,000 hectares of forest land have been gazetted as protected reserves through the “Wanaspathi” National Programme, which was launched last year, every citizen must resolve to live in harmony with the environment.

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
Prime Minister
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka