Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the need to modernize Sri Lanka’s education and assessment systems to move beyond an examination-centred model and promote skills, creativity, experiential learning and holistic development.
The Prime Minister made these remarks Aug 12 at the public lecture “250 Years of Educational Excellence: Lessons from a Sri Lankan American,” delivered by Fulbright Specialist Dr. Priyanvada Abeywickrama in Colombo.The event was organized by the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, an autonomous, bi-national commission that has promoted mutual understanding and peace between the United States and Sri Lanka through academic, cultural and professional exchanges since 1952.
The Prime Minister said that reforming the assessment system is a key component of the ongoing education reforms, aimed at reducing excessive dependence on examinations and encouraging activity-based and experiential learning.
She stressed that the reforms would not discard the strengths of the existing education system, which has produced generations of academically successful Sri Lankans, but would instead modernize the system to meet the needs of the present and future.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening digital literacy among teachers, principals and parents, while ensuring that academic and vocational education pathways receive equal recognition and validity.
Expressing appreciation for Dr. Abeywickrama’s month-long contribution to the reform process, the Prime Minister said that international expertise and collaboration are vital to successfully implementing education reforms.
She thanked the Fulbright Commission, the Postgraduate Institute of English of the Open University of Sri Lanka, the Department of Examinations and all officials and partners who supported the initiative.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to continuing collaboration with local and international experts to build an inclusive, modern and future-ready education system for Sri Lanka.
