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The school education system in our country should be revised and improved, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday (25).

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President stated that with 13 years of education, Sri Lanka needs to strive towards a more successful education system like that of America.

He said the nation must strive towards an education system where regular and advanced level exams are not held, but rather, the SAT exam and school report are considered.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe also stated that any attempt to disturb the education system of the country, whether directly or indirectly, will not be permitted, and if required, new legislation will be introduced to address such conduct.

The President stressed the pivotal role of education in shaping the future of the country and announced his plans to establish a modern education system that aligns with the demands of the 21st century. He further pledged to enhance the international reputation of Sri Lanka through these efforts.

He said that during yesterday’s cabinet meeting a new cabinet committee on education was appointed, consisting of himself, the education minister, and several other cabinet ministers.

The President made the remarks while attending the Matara Rahula College centenary celebration ceremony this morning (25), where a three-day Educational Exhibition and Art Festival ‘Vidyabhimani’ is being held at the College. A special commemorative stamp was also issued by the President to mark the occasion.

Principal Major Sudath Samarawickrama presented a commemorative gift to the President at the event.

The portrait of the President painted by a 11th-grade student of the College Yonal Mewidu, was also presented to President Wickremesinghe.

Addressing the gathering, President Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of education for the future of the country and stated that the government’s program to build a developed Sri Lanka by 2048 gives special attention to education. The government’s aspiration is to create a new education system in the country by 2035, and the government is ready to spend to modernize education in the future.

Addressing the gathering, President Ranil Wickremesinghe further said; First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for being invited to the Centenary Celebration of Rahula College in Matara. As we talk about Rahula College, we must not forget to acknowledge its former contributors, such as Mr. Gordon Pius, Notary N.D.T. Rajapakse, and C.A. Odiris Silva, who deserves a special mention.

Like all the prominent families in Matara, my family also played a significant role in supporting the development of Rahula College. It’s important to remember not just Mr. C.A. Odiris Silva but also his son from the Kanda Udaarachchi family including Mr. Ariyathilaka, Mr. Dharmapala, Mr. Harischandra, and many others.

Speaking of Mr. Dharmapala, he assisted me immensely when I first entered politics. The first public speaking event I attended was a two-day meeting he organized. I have met him several times since then, and he always talked about Rahula College.

In 1977, after Mr. J.R. Jayawardena became the President, he extended his help to this school. In 1980, upon his request, Mr. Jayawardena visited Rahula College. Even during my tenure as the Minister of Education, he talked to me about the school. He is our most senior politician and former senior leader of the United National Party, and thus we must fulfil his demands. Many other families have also contributed to the school’s growth, including the Wanigasekara family and the Wijetunga family, who I remember fondly.

Today, Matara Rahula College is a major educational institution in Sri Lanka, and many individuals who have served our country have graduated from here. As the President, I firmly believe that education is the greatest gift we can give to our youth. In the 19th and 20th centuries, many schools were established to provide education beyond those times, and Mr. C.W.W. Kannangara’s free education policy made it possible for all to obtain a secondary education.

However, we are now in the 21st century, and we must provide our children with an education that meets the demands of the time. During my visit to the College, I asked a young boy his age, and he responded, “Ten.” If he lives until he is 80, he will see the year 2090. Therefore, it is our duty to create an educational system that is well-equipped to face the challenges of the future.

Today, I am proud to say that my government is working towards 2048 and beyond. As part of our plan, we have committed to creating a good education system in the country by 2030.

In the next two or three years, we will be investing in a new economic program. After that, a large part of the funds we receive will be dedicated to education modernization programs. We believe it is crucial to create an education system that can face the future, as the youth of our country is our only national resource. They should be given a good education and build the future.

I have looked at countries like Singapore, Israel, and Switzerland, which have managed to succeed through human resource development despite limited resources. I believe we can do the same.

If I were to ask the teaching staff today whether it is possible to continue until 2050 according to our current education system, the answer would be “impossible.” That’s why we need to go for education modernization as soon as possible.

I want to make it clear that no one will be allowed to disrupt or interfere with the education system of the country, and if necessary, we will bring laws to ensure no one interferes with the education system. Education determines the future of our country, and if we establish a formal education system, we can make our country a major hub in the Indian Ocean.

That’s why the Minister of Education and I recently discussed and appointed a Cabinet Committee on Education. The Prime Minister, Education Minister and I, together with several others, will be part of this committee.

Our focus is on creating a future-oriented education system, and we have received reports from the National Education Commission and several other departments, including parliamentary committees. We must use these reports to find out how to move towards our goal.

By 2070, a bigger change will take place in society, and it will affect education. We are only seeing part of the technology now, including artificial intelligence and new arrivals like ChatGPT. We need to decide whether we want a school-centred education system or a student-centred system to prepare for the future.

I strongly believe that the school education system in our country should be revised and improved. With 13 years of education, we need to strive towards a more successful education system like that of America, where regular and advanced level exams are not held, but rather, the SAT exam and school report are considered.

To achieve this, we must introduce new subjects, such as climate change and history, while also emphasizing the importance of science, art, literature, and geography. Every student must study a science subject and an art subject. Also, English must be taught in every school within the next 10 years. We are currently working to connect all A/L to the internet, and we plan to extend this to the O/L schools as well.

Furthermore, I commend the Vanigapatuna dance performance I witnessed today, and I encourage more programs like this to be developed. In addition, we aim to implement professional programs received from Finland.

We also plan to merge the Vocational Training Authority and the National Apprenticeship Board, turning the current vocational training centres into vocational schools to triple the number of students. Additionally, we hope to provide loans on concessional terms without interest in the first two or three years to those who want to enrol in government and non-government universities for higher education.

To increase the number of engineers and doctors in the country, we aim to establish new universities that will allow young people to engage in higher education while working. Currently, we only have 2,500 engineers passing out annually. Our target is to have 10,000 engineers and 5,000 doctors passing out annually in the first phase.

To achieve all these goals, we plan to create a new system with support from institutions such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. This system will enable us to build a strong education system that can face the future and help us become a developed country by the century of independence in 2048. We will introduce these activities through the cabinet committee, discuss them in parliament, and implement them further.

Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, State Minister Shantha Bandara, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake, Southern Province Governor Willy Gamage, Postmaster General Ruwan Sarathkumara, Matara Rahula College Principal Major Sudath Samarawickrama, and other faculty members, former students, and many others participated in this event.

The Examination Department says that the preliminary marking of the A/L Tamil medium answer scripts has commenced today (21).

Accordingly, the process of confirming the control answer script marking procedure regarding several subjects is currently underway.

Commissioner General of Examinations H.J.M.C. Amith Jayasundara mentioned that the

paper marking activities have been started in relation to the subjects of Hinduism, Christianity, Hindu Civilization, Bharatha Dancing, Oriental Music, Carnatic Music, Western Music, Art, Drama and Theater and Hindi.

The work will be done at the answer script marking centers in the cities of Jaffna, Colombo,Batticaloa, Gampaha, Kalutara and Kuranegala, the Commissioner General of Examinations said.

He further stated that sufficient applications have been received to commence the work of marking the answer scripts in relation to other subjects including Sinhala and English medium and they are currently discussing with the relevant parties about the implementation of the work. (PMD)

The acceptance of applications for student enrollments between Grades 2 to 11, except Grade 6, has commenced, the Ministry of Education announced.

The Ministry said in a statement, those requiring admission must send in their applications to the relevant schools via registered post.

State schools have taken the necessary measures to fill the vacancies in schools as per the criteria in the circular issued by the Education Ministry in this regard.

The Ministry added that thereby, it will not issue letters for school admissions for grades 2-11 in the future.

A shortage of a cash bundle worth Rs 5 million was discovered in a vault of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on 11 April, during the currency operations.

Issuing a statement in this regard, CBSL noted that an internal probe into the matter was commenced immediately, while a complaint was also lodged at the Fort Police Station.

While the police investigation is in currently ongoing, CBSL said it is taking all necessary measures to thoroughly investigate the incident and strengthen the internal controls and processes.

Accordingly, CBSL noted that they will continue assisting the Police to carry out its investigations.

The Court of Appeal on Monday issued an interim order on the Terrorist Investigations Division preventing the arrest or recording a statement from Former Attorney General Dappula De Livera

The Former Attorney General was summoned to the TID on three separate occasions to record a statement with regard to a comment he made over the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks.

Dappula De Livera had filed an application challenging the decision taken to summon him and record a statement with the Court of Appeal.

It was taken up for consideration by Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and A. Marikkar on Monday (24)

President's Counsel Romesh De Silva appeared for the Former Attorney General, along with Attorneys Shanaka Cooray and Dimitri Abeysekera.

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Former AG Dappula a no-show at TID on Monday (24)

Sri Lanka's Former Attorney General Dappula De Livera did not turn up at the Terrorist Investigations Division on Monday (24), after he was informed to appear at the TID.

He was summoned to the TID to record a statement with the regard to a comment he made over the 2019 Easter Sunday Terror Attacks.

Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that Former Attorney General Dappual De Livera did not visit the TID on Monday (24).

Former Attorney General Dappual De Livera was summoned to the TID for the third time on Monday (24).

Sri Lanka's Former Attorney General Dappula De Livera was summoned to the Terrorist Investigations Division to record a statement over a comment he made regarding the 2019 April Attacks in May 2021, days ahead of his retirement.

On the 17th of May 2021, Former Attorney General Dappula De Livera said, "There is a Grand Conspiracy with regard to the 2019 April Attacks."

He said that information by the State Intelligence Service with times, targets, places, method of attacks and other information is clear evidence there was a Grand Conspiracy in place.

Counsel appearing for Dappual De Livera, PC commented on the matter after filing objections with the TID.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today refused to allow the education of children to be taken hostage and said education would be made an essential service under emergency law if teachers refuse to return to paper-marking by next week.

“No one is going to hold the education of children as hostage. That I am not allowing. That can’t be allowed,” he emphasized, addressing the progress review meeting of the Education Ministry at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (19).

The President said he is thinking of making education, especially examinations, a compulsory service or to also establish an examinations committee for the General Certificate of Education (GCE).

The President’s discussion with education officials focused on the prevailing issue concerning the delay in paper-marking of the 2022 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination due to teachers and university lecturers deciding to withdraw from those services.

The President instructed the officials present to inquire from the Education Minister as to whether the university lecturers are willing to correct the papers or not. “Why can’t you mark it with all the teachers available? Look if they don’t come they don’t come. That’s not an answer I can give in parliament. I am asking you give me an answer that I can tell the country and parliament,” he told the officials.

He further said: “Now if it’s marked by the teachers and not marked by the dons, what happens? Anyway the minister has now said there is a political force behind it. So now you have to go from there. If the FUTA says they are not a political force then it’ll get dragged on some more.”

“One is, I am thinking of making education, especially examinations, a compulsory service. Other can shout, in the country it will be the most popular thing. And then secondly, an exams committee. A G.C.E. exams committee. Both those I will put it by emergency and then you can bring the legislation.”

“So one of the two, tell me.”

“All those who marked the papers last time must be available for service now. If not I will prosecute them and take their property off. So it’s not a question of moratorium, you’ll be bankrupt. That’s all.”

“You can’t stop the education of children, no? What nonsense is this?”

“So anyway work out one of the two and tell me. That’s all. By next week I must tell the AG to be ready with the emergency regulations. Let’s see which MP is going to vote against it. I’ll ask for a vote by name.”

“So, tell them these are the two options. If you don’t come back and want to have a confrontation, we are willing to come for a confrontation.”

“But no one is going to hold the education of children as hostage. That I am not allowing. That can’t be allowed.”

“Forget the labour law. Don’t worry of those. I want to start the exams and the schools, so don’t talk to me about the labour law. That’ll come later. Y’all must come up with a solution end of this week. If you don’t have one, I will take it up in Cabinet and then we will decide what to do.”

“Speak to the Minister. Then we will have a meeting this week and decide. Now the minister has also made a statement, we can’t go back on it. And we can only go forward.”

Commissioner general of labour B. K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi has been appointed to the board of HDFC Bank as an independent non-executive director.

Chandrakeerthi is a special grade officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and counts 23 years in the public sector.

He also holds the vice chairmanships of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and the National Institute of Labour Studies and an ex-officio member of the Vocational Training Authority and the National Child Protection Authority.

Chandrakeerthi obtained his bachelor’s degree in arts in 1998 from University of Sri Jayewardenepura and joined the government service in 2000.

He completed a master’s degree in economics in 2008, bachelor of law from the Open University in 2014 and qualified as a lawyer from Sri Lanka Law College in 2017.

He also obtained a doctorate in coastal resources management from International University of Fundamental Studies in Russia in 2016.

Chandrakeerthi has held the post of director general in the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management.

He is an experienced professional in the fields of tourism management, public management and public administration.

His exceptional work has been recognized by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura with the ‘Pradeep Pranama’ award and by Transparency International Sri Lanka with the integrity public servant award.

Chinese Zoo Company, Zhejiang Wuyu Animal Breeding Co. Limited has made a written request from Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Ministry to export crop-damaging monkeys to be placed in their zoos for exhibition purposes.

In a letter addressed to the Agriculture Ministry, seen by NewsWire, the Chinese firm said it has made the offer based on reports that Sri Lanka was looking to get rid of certain crop-destroying species.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the government has not held any discussion on exporting Toque monkeys to China.

Minister Gunawardena told the media yesterday (18) that the proposal had been made along with several other proposals provided by various parties pertaining to the imports and exports of Sri Lanka.

He further said that thereby, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera made a proposal to export crop-destroying monkeys to 1000 Zoos operated by a private firm in China.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has informed the Cabinet that a committee has been appointed together with the Chinese firm and research is underway on the possibility of exporting monkeys to China, the Cabinet Spokesman said.

The Cabinet Spokesman further pointed out that live animals cannot be exchanged freely between countries, adding that the existing laws prevent such exchanges.

Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the committee appointed in this regard will give the final decision following the conclusion of its research.

Member of Parliament (MP) Prof. G. L. Pieris has levelled allegations at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), claiming that the party meeting held this morning (22 April) was ‘illegal’.

Issuing a statement in this regard, Prof. Pieris further noted that all decisions taken at the said meeting are not, in any way, valid, and will therefore be deemed null and void.

Thus, the MP asserted that all relevant court action will be taken to deem the decisions taken at this morning’s meeting invalid.

The SLPP today unanimously decided to appoint Ven. Uthurawala Dhammarathana Thera as the Party Chairman, replacing Prof. Pieris.

The meeting took place at 10:00 a.m. today, under the patronage of Party Leader, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

India has surpassed China to become the world’s most populous country with 142.86 crore people, said the United Nation.

China’s population dipped in the last year for the first time since 1960, when millions starved to death under the disastrous agricultural policies of former leader Mao Zedong.

According to the United Nations Population Funds’ (UNPF) report, India’s population is at 1,428.6 million or 1.4286 billion against 1.4257 billion for China.

The United States is a distant third, with an estimated population of 340 million, the data showed.

China is witnessing a decline in the birthrate and its workforce is also ageing. Several regions in China have announced plans to boost birth rates — but official efforts have so far failed to reverse the decline.

On the other hand, India has no recent data on its population as the last census was conducted in 2011. In India, the census is done every 10 years. It was due to be held in 2021 but had to be postponed due to the pandemic.

India Becomes World’s Most Populous Country: Top Points

Nearly 1/4th of India’s population is under the age of 14.

68 per cent of the population is in the 15 to 64 age group.

While 7 per cent is above the age of 65.

India’s population is expected to keep rising for nearly three decades before it peaks at 165 crore and then would start declining.

The new UN report also estimated that the global population will have hit 8.045 billion by mid-2023.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has made two new Provincial Chief Secretariat appointments.

Accordingly, Ajith Premasinghe has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Central Province, while Danayanthi Paranagama was appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Uva Province.

Both individuals are Special Grade Officers of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), the President’s Media Division (PMD) noted, adding that the relevant appointments will be effective with the retirement of the incumbent officers.

The Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera is to submit a Cabinet paper for the appointment of a committee to look into the request made by China for toque monkeys from Sri Lanka for their zoos.

Amaraweera noted that although a request has been made from China for toque monkeys from Sri Lanka, no final decision has been made in this regard.

He said a Chinese company that handles several private zoological gardens made a request to provide monkeys from Sri Lanka for their zoos, adding however that a committee comprising representatives from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoological Gardens, Attorney General’s Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture will be appointed to inspect into the relevant request. “Toque monkeys will only be exported to China based on the recommendation of the sub committee appointed by the Cabinet. If the committee decides otherwise, then this matter will be put to an end,” he said.