This is for the University to make pre-arrangements before commencing academic studies in January 2025.

Successive governments’ efforts to open private medical faculties have ended with strong protests from leftists and Marxists.

SAITM and before it the North Colombo University in Ragama were forced to close after such protests.
Later, the North Colombo University was incorporated as the medical faculty of state-run University of Kelaniya. (Colombo/May31/2024)

Coverage will extend across all types of schools and includes students from low-income families earning less than 180,000 rupees annually, he said.

“Suraksha student insurance will cover 4.5 million students, offering health, accident, and life insurance. Health benefits include up to Rs. 300,000 for inpatient care, Rs. 20,000 for outpatient services, and critical illness coverage up to Rs. 1.5 million,” the president said on social media platform X (twitter).

“Accident insurance ranges from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 200,000, covering disabilities. Life insurance provides Rs. 75,000 per child if a parent passes away, with a maximum of Rs. 225,000 per family.”

Wickremesinghe implemented the Suraksha student insurance in 2017 when he was Prime Minister.

It ran until 1 December 2022, when it had to be stopped due to the country’s economic constraints.

2 billion rupees was allocated in the 2024 budget to revive the student insurance programme, starting from the first week of June.

“Nelson Mandela said, I quote, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” I too believe in a world that cares for and protects children’s rights, providing them with a safe and happy environment in which to grow.” (Colombo/May22/2024)

“We have received 956 eligible applications; 868 from local syllabus and from London syllabus 88,” Tennakoon told reporters Wednesday.

Sri Lanka’s cabinet approved paid medical degrees at KDU on April 2024. KDU charges 12.5 million rupees for its medical degree.

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Sri Lanka to offer paid medical degrees through KDU

In 2023, the University of Colombo started a paid medical degree for foreign students at a fee of 62,500 dollars.

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Sri Lanka calls foreigners to enroll in Colombo University for medical degree; to charge $62,500

The government has also said it will change its medical ordinance to accept degrees awarded by internationally recognized universities. (Colombo/May15/2024)

Reports have emerged of English paper being leaked in social media and including questions in Science paper outside the syllabus.

Premajayantha said the English paper has been leaked only one hour after the English exam was started.

“So there is no way students had access to that. By the time it was leaked, students were doing the exams,” he told reporters at a media briefing in Colombo.

“For science paper, there will be grace marks for those who are affected by the questions which are claimed to have caused injustice to the students.”

He said the complaint on science paper will be considered when the marking scheme is prepared through routine sample marking to ensure no injustice will be caused to the students.

“So the message is we do not have to repeat the exams,” the Minister told separately.

Ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Madhura Withanage last week claimed that Science question paper for the ongoing G.C.E O/L examination has been prepared beyond the provisioning plan.

Withanage highlighted that portions of three Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and three essay-type questions in this year’s O/L Science paper has been prepared outside the provisioning plan. (Colombo/May 14/2028)

GMOA general secretary Haritha Alutghe told reporters on Tuesday May 07 that state-owned medical faculties, which can fill nearly 2,100 students, will soon be full to capacity over the next few years, which will result in issues pertaining to internships.

“The state’s medical faculties can enroll nearly 2,100 students. At present there’s 1,300 or 1,400 at those faculties. In three or four years, it will surpass 2,100. We do not have vacancies for 2,000 internships,” said Aluthge.

“We have said categorically that there must not be any expanding of medical education without paying attention to the internship issue,” he said.

There is opposition among some academics, trade unions and leftist parties to private participation in higher education, particularly in the field of medicine.

“If medicine is to be expanded and if new faculties are to be opened, they must adhere to the minimum standards set by the Sri Lanka Medical Council. This is the law. The president or anyone else cannot break this law. The law pertaining to minimum standards of medical education was one that was passed in parliament,” said Aluthge.

“We have stressed that no one can violate it. If anything is must be developed further,” he added.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently said Sri Lanka needs a new education system that aligns with global standards and can cultivate professionals suited for the competitive world market.

“I firmly advocate for education reforms and the creation of a new educational paradigm in our country. Our focus should be on nurturing professionals who can thrive in the global arena,” Wickremesinghe said speaking at an event in February.

“To drive economic transformation, our education system must align with international standards, equipping students to compete effectively,” Wickremesinghe said after distributing free school textbooks and uniforms to the students.

“By alleviating exam pressures and incorporating English and technology subjects, we aim to groom a workforce ready for the demands of the modern world. Plans are also underway to establish vocational colleges and technical universities to further this objective.” (Colombo/May07/2024)

The Cabinet adopted a joint proposal to prepare a draft bill for the establishment of a Council after discussions with relevant stakeholders in the field of education.

Sri Lanka currently faces a teacher shortage. Low salaries continue to be a problem in the recruitment of teachers, especially in the English medium of instruction. (Colombo/May7/2024)

The project is expected to provide smart boards for delivering class rooms, receiving class rooms, a data centre to monitor these activities from the Ministry of Education, and studio and conference rooms.

The project will see a hybrid learning method (learning via online, electronic media and face-to-face) implemented.

The sharing of resources are expected to mitigate risks associated with teacher shortages.

A feasibility study has been conducted on the implementation of the project. Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Education to implement the project based on the feasibility study report. (Colombo/May7/20204)

The exhibition showcased the talents on young innovators who demonstrated practical skills in handling latest technology like 3D printing and start ups by young kids which are likely to spark economic opportunities in the future.

“The DreamCraft exhibition is more than a celebration of youthful creativity—it is a catalyst for economic growth,” the Exhibition organizers IgniterSpace and TRACE said in a statement on the exhibition held on April 21.

“By channeling young talent into innovation, Sri Lanka can enhance its competitive edge globally. The focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) education and entrepreneurial skills at such events translates into a workforce that is not only skilled but also capable of launching ventures that contribute to the nation’s GDP and attract international investment.”

Sri Lanka is in the process to introduce Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)-oriented education system to revamp the island nation’s “outdated” education system. 

STEAM education is an approach to learn the uses of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as an access point for guiding and improving student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. 

Originated in the United States, STEAM education is currently used in 96 countries around the world and has attracted the attention of educators everywhere as a highly successful method of education.

The exhibition was organized in collaboration with IgniterSpace, which guides kids on technology and engineering, in collaboration with TRACE, a local organization that promotes collaboration, creativity, and entrepreneurship through technology and innovation across disciplines. (Colombo/April 28/2024)

Politicising education would inevitably lead to Sri Lanka’s downfall, said, calling for collaborations to devise the most effective education system for the country within the next two to three years.

Wickremesinghe made these remarks at the 10th Biennial Conference of the All Island Professional Lecturers’ Association (APLA), held at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo on Tuesday April 23.

The government’s forthcoming education reforms would not solely involve education experts but would also welcome input from school teachers, professionals in the economic sector, and organisations like the APLA, Wickremesinghe said calling for inclusive dialogue in shaping the future of education.

Globally, he said, the traditional schooling system and supplementary classes are intertwined.

“We’ve gleaned valuable insights from the recent economic downturn and are steadily recovering. However, we must forge ahead with a new economic paradigm, one centered on exports and marked by fierce competitiveness. Simultaneously, we must strive for economic growth that alleviates poverty.

“In addition to these considerations, it’s imperative to craft an education system that aligns with our country’s needs. We must delve into the dynamics between formal schooling and extracurricular activities, while also exploring the integration of technology and artificial intelligence into education. Presently, technology is driving significant changes in education, and it’s crucial that we embrace and adapt to this transformation,” the president’s office quoted him as saying.

Noting that Sri Lanka pioneered Western-style education in Asia and was among the first to implement free education, Wickremesinghe said that, over the next two to three years, the island nation must strategise on incorporating this new technology into its education system.

“We need to envision a modern education framework tailored for 2050, rather than 2030,” he said.

“These educational reforms must not be confined to the domain of education experts alone. General educators, representatives from the economic sector, and organisations like the All Island Professional Lecturers’ Association should also actively participate. The discourse on educational reform should be inclusive, with every idea given due consideration. Politics should not overshadow education; turning it into a mere tool for political maneuvering achieves nothing. Ultimately, it’s the nation that suffers. Hence, it’s imperative for everyone to transcend political divides and collaborate towards shaping the future of education collectively.”

Wickremesinghe said that, over the next two to three years, it is imperative that Sri Lanka engages in discussions to determine the optimal education system for the country by the year 2050.

“We must also remain adaptable to ongoing technological advancements beyond that time-frame,” he added. (Colombo/Apr24/2024)

“This memorandum aimed to establish an exchange programme focusing on education and research, offering Sri Lankan students the opportunity to delve into innovative learning methods,” Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said on his social media page.

Premajayantha, on an observation tour of the University of Illinois in Chicago, “expressed a desire for the university to share its cutting-edge technical methods with students in Sri Lanka”. (Colombo/April16/2024)

“There are 765 schools chosen to offer English medium at present,” Gunawardena told reporters on Tuesday. “We want to increase this to 1,000 schools.”

Sri Lanka has approved 4,441 English medium teachers already, and the state plans to increase the teachers to 6,500, Gunawardena said.

However, low salaries have proved to be a problem in the recruitment of teachers. These English-medium teachers will get the same salaries as other teachers in the state sector, the minister said.

“This is a problem. Because there is a big demand in the private sector for teachers in bio sciences, chemistry, physics, IT, accounts, English and foreign languages. And they are offered higher salaries than the state service.

“But there are instances where people leave better paying private sector for state jobs.” (Colombo/Apr10/2024)

“Middle-class families sell their ancestral lands to send their children abroad to countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Belarus to study for medical degrees,” Gunawardena said.

“The foreign exchange Sri Lanka gets from migrant workers goes out of the country to pay for our students’ education abroad. This is a crime.”

Gunawardena said this could be addressed by offering fee-levying medical degree programmes locally.

The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, is a State defense university administered by the Ministry of Defense. At present it offers study programmes to those who join the defence forces. (Colombo/Apr9/2024)

“To encourage safe and daily attendance of school in rural areas, 517 bicycles were donated by the people of Japan through ChildFund Japan,” ChildFund Sri Lanka said in a statement.

Schoolchildren between the ages of 12-16 were selected from 108 schools in 12 districts where there are transportation difficulties, such as Monaragala, Puttalam, and Mullaitivu.

Some students in these areas have to travel over two and a half kilometers from home to school with no means of transport available.

The bicycles were handed over to the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka on Monday with Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki and Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha participating. The bicycles will be distributed to the selected schools and children by ChildFund Sri Lanka. (Colombo/Apr2/2024)

“Cultivating an entrepreneurial atmosphere within schools greatly aids in fostering future entrepreneurs,” Prasanna Ranaweera said. “This initiative is pivotal in laying the foundation for a robust manufacturing economy within the country.”

Ranaweera said that the Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel had recently awarded diploma course certificates to nearly 500 students.

“Furthermore, in collaboration with the Industrial Development Board (IDB), we have successfully established school entrepreneurial circles and assessed the students’ potential.” (Colombo/Mar29/2024)

The government will provide 16.6 billion rupees to the nine provincial councils, with support from the World Food Program and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Malnutrition poses a significant challenge within our borders, transcending income disparities,” President Ranil Wickremesinghe said at the launch of the program at Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya in Narahenpita this morning.

“The root causes extend beyond financial limitations, affecting students of all backgrounds. Many commence their school day before dawn, foregoing breakfast and often lunch, underscoring the universal necessity for school-provided meals.

“Education encompasses not only academic knowledge and examination performance but also nutritional well-being, this initiative mirrors global practices adopted by numerous nations.”

Under the theme “Healthy Active Generation,” the program seeks to address nutritional deficiencies among students, enhance daily attendance rates, instill healthy eating and lifestyle habits, elevate academic performance, and promote local culinary traditions.

Wickremesinghe said holistic education was important, and that a curriculum that includes both academic subjects and nutritional support for children across the country was needed.

The school meal programme aims to provide nutritious meals to students in grades 1-5 nationwide. Breakfast will be served between 7.30 am and 8.30 am, as per expert recommendations on optimal nutrition timing, a statement by the president’s media division said.

Local suppliers provide the necessary food for this initiative. A transparent financial oversight mechanism is in place to ensure accountability and reporting, and the Ministry of Education, Health and Nutrition Branch will monitor implementation, according to the statement.

Sri Lanka’s worst currency crisis saw salaries not keeping pace, and many of its population becoming poorer, leading to malnutrition especially among its children. (Colombo/Mar25/2024)

Secretary of the All Ceylon Medical Officers Association Jayantha Bandara told reporters on Wednesday March 20 that the association would take trade union action against the decision if the government did not revoke it.

Bandara spoke to the reporters outside the Presidential Secretariat having just handed over the letter to an official.

“The government is again trying to create a major problem in the country,” he said.

Bandara, a medical doctor, claimed that the issue of private medical universities has led to confrontational situations in the country over the recent past and also led to problems in education and health sectors.

“The government is ready to approve and open several private universities,” he said, asking if it was a priority at the moment.

“This is clearly not something that’s needed now. Without doing what needs to be done, the government is starting private universities that will destory our country’s education and health,” he said.

Bandara did not elaborate on how private medical universities might destroy either education or health.

He said existing state-run medical faculties including recently opened ones are facing a major crisis, with massive shortages of academic staff and resource constraints, which he said has caused a breakdown in education.

“In the health service, doctors and medical staff are leaving the country. A major crisis has been created in the health service. What is the government doing in the meantime? They’re trying to create private universities,” said Bandara.

In their letter to the president, the All Ceylon Medical Officers Association demands that the government provide facilities to existing state-run faculties and take measures to curb the departure of lecturers.

“Also provide solutions to medical and other staff shortages in the health sector,” he said.

“We first ask that the government revoke this decision immediately. Or we’ll take the maximum action we can take as the All Ceylon Medical Officers Association  in due course,” he added. (Colombo/Mar20/2024)

Secretary of the All Ceylon Medical Officers Association Jayantha Bandara told reporters on Wednesday March 20 that the association would take trade union action against the decision if the government did not revoke it.

Bandara spoke to the reporters outside the Presidential Secretariat having just handed over the letter to an official.

“The government is again trying to create a major problem in the country,” he said.

Bandara, a medical doctor, claimed that the issue of private medical universities has led to confrontational situations in the country over the recent past and also led to problems in education and health sectors.

“The government is ready to approve and open several private universities,” he said, asking if it was a priority at the moment.

“This is clearly not something that’s needed now. Without doing what needs to be done, the government is starting private universities that will destory our country’s education and health,” he said.

Bandara did not elaborate on how private medical universities might destroy either education or health.

He said existing state-run medical faculties including recently opened ones are facing a major crisis, with massive shortages of academic staff and resource constraints, which he said has caused a breakdown in education.

“In the health service, doctors and medical staff are leaving the country. A major crisis has been created in the health service. What is the government doing in the meantime? They’re trying to create private universities,” said Bandara.

In their letter to the president, the All Ceylon Medical Officers Association demands that the government provide facilities to existing state-run faculties and take measures to curb the departure of lecturers.

“Also provide solutions to medical and other staff shortages in the health sector,” he said.

“We first ask that the government revoke this decision immediately. Or we’ll take the maximum action we can take as the All Ceylon Medical Officers Association  in due course,” he added. (Colombo/Mar20/2024)

“A large number of our students are going abroad to study medicine,” Minister Bandula Gunawardena said Tuesday announcing the week’s Cabinet decisions.

“It has been proposed to establish a medical faculty under the direct supervision and regulation of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Sri Lanka Medical Council at the National School of Business Management, a fully self-financed institution owned by the government and to award MBBS degrees through it.”

The new faculty will be able to enroll 500 local and foreign students annually for the degree course, Gunawardena said.

“The Homagama Base Hospital will be upgraded to teaching hospital status, like the Kalubowila Hospital, for the undergraduates’ clinical training (sa-ya-ni-ka pu-hu-nu-wa).”

Gunawardena said NSBM has agreed to provide necessary funds for the development of Homagama Base Hospital in accordance with the standards of medical education published by the Sri Lanka Medical Council. (Colombo/Mar12/2024)

Sri Lankans are already seeking jobs in Japan and Korea where local language skills are a requirement.

“We are planning on introducing foreign languages such as Japanese, Chinese and Korean in order to create jobs for local people,” Kumar said to reporters Friday.

“When I met with the Japanese ambassador, he said he will give Sri Lankans jobs with a salary of 500,000 in Japan, however, they must know Japanese language.”

Sri Lanka, however, does not have enough foreign language teachers.

Sri Lanka has lost more than 5,000 teachers, after the latest currency collapse, according to reports.

Sri Lankan teachers are paid low salaries. At Sri Lanka’s salary scales with depreciating rupee, it is not possible to recruit foreign teachers.

“We can’t pay a foreign teacher 40,000 rupees,” he said.

Kumar said that the ministry wants to teach children foreign languages at school level so that they may study it at university and then go on to become foreign language teachers.

State Minister of Higher Education Suren Ragavan, has said that Sri Lanka plans to recruit foreign volunteers to teach English. (Colombo/Mar08/2024)

“There is one group that is opposed to education reforms. These are revolutionaries who recently became ‘modern’. They say free education need not be modernised. They say Sri Lanka’s stagnating education must continue the way it is,” Premadasa said speaking at an event.

“Every time something new is being attempted, what do they do? They take to the streets. They go on paada yatras and hold protests.

“But did you know? The children of these big revolutionaries study at international schools,” the leader of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said.

Acknowledging that disparity in education is a real problem in Sri Lanka, Premadasa said that measures must be taken to address it.

“An SJB government will be dedicated to achieving that change,” he said.

The SJB is currently lagging behind the leftist National People’s Power (NPP) in at least one voting intentions poll.

The NPP is led and controlled by the Janatha Vimukathi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist-Leninist party that led two unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the government and capture state power, resulting in two of Sri Lanka’s most violent periods.

The JVP has historically been harshly critical of private participation in the education sector, particularly in higher education. (Colombo/Mar01/2024)