Resolve the Principal issues in the North Central Province Within next three months.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized that, in implementing the new education reform, proper and timely principal transfers must be ensured to provide children with quality education and the importance of maintaining proper coordination between provincial councils and the central government.
The Prime Minister made these remarks today (12th) at the North Central Provincial Council during the first awareness session of a series of discussions aimed at informing educational and administrative authorities at provincial, zonal, and divisional levels about the new education reforms to be implemented in 2026.
The discussions addressed the revision of curricula, assessment and evaluation processes, development of infrastructure, minimization of teacher and administrative vacancies, enhancement of coordination between provincial councils and the central government, and understanding and addressing existing regional issues promptly.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
We all accept that the current education system needs to change. These reforms are essential. Particularly, existing teachers must be trained, infrastructure must be improved, and the administrative structure must be strengthened. Digitalization is also necessary.
It is important not to look at this reform in isolation but to see it as a systemic overhaul. It’s not enough to say that this is a developing country, we need to change the method. And that responsibility falls on us. For whatever reason, we are now compelled to make this change. Not only teachers but also the administrative sector, parents, and everyone else must get involved in this regard. Everyone should be properly informed about these reforms.
The goal is to ensure that when students leave school, they have a clear path forward through university, higher education, or vocational education. If we are to move this country forward, we must implement educational transformation. Likewise, in this process, government-related transfers must be done properly. Principal transfers must be rationalized appropriately.
Provincial-level issues related to principals must be resolved promptly through the provincial councils. We are prepared to issue circulars and make legal amendments through the Ministry to achieve this. Do not divide schools into ’national’ and ’provincial.’ All schools belong to us; all children are ours.
We must take responsibility for the children currently in school. To do so, we must rectify the current situation in schools. Let’s work together in consensus to solve these issues.
As a government, we are placing special focus on education reform. The President has also emphasized the importance of developing human resources and improving infrastructure for education and has assured the necessary financial support.
Our task is to solve these issues and implement a new education transformation. The first year may be challenging, but by the third or fourth year, it will become easier.
These discussions are especially important for identifying and solving problems at the provincial level during the implementation of this process. We ask for your support in this transformation for the sake of our children.
The Prime Minister also instructed officials to take necessary steps to resolve the existing issues related to teachers and principals in the North Central Province within the next three months.
Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Consumer Affairs, Mr. Wasantha Samarasinghe, stated:
There are numerous education-related issues in the North Central Province. In particular, for a long time, zonal directors of education have not been properly appointed, and principals have not been appointed appropriately. All these matters must be resolved. While the Ministry of Education is carrying out necessary actions, issues at the provincial level must also be addressed. Some schools in the North Central Province do not have principals, while there are 46 excess grade-one principals. One teacher is assigned to just 16 students, yet schools still claim they lack teachers. This situation must be changed immediately. Transfers must be done correctly. Interviews should be held, and appointments must be granted to unassigned officers through proper procedures.
The discussion was attended by the Parliamentarians Bhagyashri Herath, Nimal Palihena, and North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa, along with Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Mr. Nalaka Kaluwawa, North Central Provincial Chief Secretary J.M.R.P. Jayasinghe, Provincial Director of Education M.M.W. Samarakoon, and officials representing the Ministry of Education, Department of Examinations, Department of Educational Publications, National Institute of Education, the North Central Provincial Council, and the Provincial Department of Education.
Prime Minister’s Media Division