Academics call on Government to safeguard credibility of education reforms amid online attacks on PM

Colombo, Jan. 15 (Daily Mirror) - A group of academics, professionals, and social activists have issued a joint statement urging the government to preserve the integrity of ongoing education reforms, warning that recent online attacks against the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, risk undermining a transformative agenda for the country’s education system.

In a statement released today, the group condemned “vulgar and hateful propaganda” being directed at the country’s leadership, describing such attacks as not only indecent and misogynistic but also damaging to public discourse on critical reforms.

“The current attacks normalize attitudes that belittle progressive women’s leadership and shrink the space for constructive engagement on urgently needed education reforms,” the statement noted.

The reforms, framed under the National People’s Power (NPP) Education Policy, aim to redesign Sri Lanka’s education system to foster forward-looking values, democratic citizenship, and social mobility. According to the coalition, the vision emphasizes developing leadership qualities, moral integrity, and effective communication skills among students, while promoting diversity, pluralism, and equal access to education for all segments of society.

Key recommendations outlined by the group include:

Reviewing Grades 1–6 textbooks and future educational materials through an independent mechanism to correct editorial and content errors.

Restructuring the National Institute of Education (NIE) following a comprehensive review of its performance.

Holding inclusive dialogues with stakeholders, including teacher unions, to ensure transparency and accountability in implementing reforms.

Allocating a substantial portion of the national budget to achieve the target of 6% of GDP for public education expenditure.

The statement also stressed that the reform process must expand and protect the right to free education for both present and future generations, while resisting “crude and hateful rhetoric” that dehumanizes social identities.

“These reforms are a serious undertaking requiring high responsibility from all institutions within the education system. The transformative vision for education continues to enjoy strong support from the majority of the academic, professional, and public community,” the coalition said.

The group concluded by calling on the government to act decisively to maintain public confidence in the education system, emphasizing that progress must not be derailed by the immoral conduct of a small minority.

The signatories to the joint statement are Prof. Emeritus Jayadeva Uyangoda, Prof. Emeritus Jagath Weerasinghe, Prof. Anbahan Ariyadurai, Prof. Uthpala Jayawardena, Prof. Rohan Fernando, Prof. Prince Jayadevan, Dr. S. Arivalzahan, Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, Dr. N. Varathan, Sandun Thudugala (Law & Society Trust), Dr. Mariadas Alfred, Dr. Athulasiri Samarakoon, Senior Lecturer Saminathan Wimal, Dr. Dileepa Withrana, Dr. S. Selvaganesh, Vangeesa Sumanasekera (Colombo School of Philosophy), Eng. M. Sooriasegaram, Vidura Munasinghe (Attorney-at-Law), Dr. Amali Wedagedara, Senior Lecturer Janaha Selvaras, Dr. Thyagaraja Waradas, Sanjee Goonathilake (Social Activist), Dr. Visakesa Chandrasekaram, Senior Lecturer Sithumina Rathnamalala, Dr. Vivimarie Vander Poorten, Shreen Saroor (Social Activist), and Hiranyada Devasiri (Researcher).