O/L and A/L exams to be held on time from next year

Education Ministry officials stated that preparations have been made to conduct the G.C.E. Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations from next year on time as previously scheduled.

They also confirmed that school textbooks and uniforms will be distributed before the start of the new school term on January 5, 2026.

These assurances were given during the 2026 pre-budget discussion of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (29) at the Presidential Secretariat.

At the meeting, President Dissanayake instructed officials to focus on strengthening the school system and reforming curricula to ensure that every child receives a quality education. He also emphasized the need to allocate sufficient resources to meet the objectives of the government’s education reforms.

The President further directed the Ministry to formulate a comprehensive National Vocational Education Plan, with the assistance of the Vocational Education Division, rather than relying on the numerous vocational education programmes currently scattered across the country.

The discussion reviewed the progress of projects under the three areas of general education, higher education, and vocational education, as well as challenges faced in relation to budget allocations for 2025. Officials also presented the Ministry’s future plans under the vision of “Reaching excellence in the global society through skilled citizens who uphold the Sri Lankan identity.”

Key points included the progress of foreign-assisted projects such as the General Education Modernization Project (GEMP) and the Secondary Education Sector Improvement Programme (SESIP). The President highlighted the need to strengthen primary education, school development programmes, and long-running school projects.

The meeting also reviewed welfare initiatives such as the school nutrition programme, student allowances, provision of textbooks and uniforms, the “SURAKSHA” insurance scheme, shoe distribution for underprivileged and Pirivena students, the sanitary pad programme for schoolgirls, and scholarship programmes including the Technology Stream Scholarship, Sujatha Diyani, and Subhaga schemes.

In higher education, officials reported that efforts in 2026 will focus on expanding student hostel facilities, improving university infrastructure, and promoting research and innovation. Degree programmes and curricula will be reviewed to align with ongoing education reforms, with the goal of enhancing the international standing of Sri Lankan universities.

On vocational education, the government aims to modernize 50 vocational training institutes and establish nine excellence centres during the 2026–2030 period.

The discussion was attended by Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, along with senior ministers, secretaries and officials from both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.