Columns

By Sandun Jayawardana 

The debates during Parliament’s first sitting week for 2026 may have been about other topics, but it meant no difference as the roll-out of the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s controversial new education reforms dominated proceedings.  

The controversy, which has been heightened by the recent discovery that the Grade 6 English Language module textbook contains a web address directing students to a gay chat website, has put the government on the defensive just days before the reforms are officially introduced for students in Grades 1 and 6.

As opposition MPs went about collecting signatures for a No-Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, who they blame for the controversial reforms in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, her NPP colleagues closed ranks around her, condemning what they termed were malicious and baseless attacks against the PM.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya

In reply to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Dr Amarasuriya told the House on Friday (9) that following a review, the Academic Affairs Board of the National Institute of Education (NIE) had instructed that no web links should be included when preparing modules for second and third terms for all grades from now on. Websites and other sources currently included in these modules are those that do not require any payment, or are government websites. As such, the inclusion of these websites will not raise issues of transparency, accountability, or procurement guidelines, she pointed out.

The PM also insisted that having internet access was not a requirement to implement the new education reforms, adding that teachers have been given the facility to use the internet as a learning support tool. The government has allocated Rs 1.6 billion to provide smart boards or computers for schools that do not have any digital tool. Arrangements have been made to procure and distribute smart boards to 2,498 schools at the provincial level by February, she said. All these schools will receive some form of internet facility by March and as such, physical and infrastructure facilities such as computers, internet access and electricity will not be a serious barrier when implementing the new education reforms for Grades 1 and 6 in these schools, she added.

Opposition MPs though, criticised the government over the education reforms. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that while the Director of the NIE has temporarily stood down to facilitate an inquiry, there were many other officials who were responsible for the inclusion of the problematic web address in the Grade 6 English module. The government, however, has not revealed details of any action taken against those officials, he added.

Mr Premadasa added that while the PM’s reply made it sound as if everything was now “settled,” the truth is that more errors are still to be found in the various modules printed under the new reforms. He claimed that the Ashoka Chakra had erroneously been used in place of the Dharma Chakra in the Buddhism module, and said this was a serious error.

Dr Amarasuriya noted that the NIE had been established under a specific Act and that its disciplinary proceedings are being conducted by its own council. As such, subject to the approval of the council, the Education Ministry has appointed a former Ministry Secretary to conduct an initial inquiry. The council will take further action based on the results of this inquiry, and the ministry will monitor the matter, she stressed. The PM also refuted the accusation regarding the Dharma Chakra, saying that what was included in the book was the symbol approved by the Department of Buddhist Affairs. While it might be similar to the Ashoka Chakra, it is still the approved symbol, though the other symbol too is used in the country, she explained.

Some opposition MPs also questioned whether the premier was being made a scapegoat regarding the controversy due to differences between the NPP and its main party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Colombo District SJB MP S M Marikkar said the government was in denial as to the hole it had dug for itself due to the fiasco surrounding the new education reforms. “Sometimes, I feel sorry for the PM because there are suspicions whether the insertion of this web address was a plot hatched from Pelawatta (JVP head office),” he quipped, claiming that senior members representing the JVP had not rallied to defend the PM. “The JVP has forgotten that it had been reduced to just 3% (of the total vote), but that it was due to people like Harini Amarasuriya coming to form the NPP that helped them form a government. But, there’s no one from them today to defend her.”

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Battiacaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said his party had serious concerns regarding the new education reforms, particularly in relation to the curriculum and the contents in the history lessons. He added that a group of ITAK MPs had already met the PM to raise their concerns with her regarding these issues.

Whatever issues the party has with the reforms however, Mr Rasamanickam stressed that the ITAK vehemently condemns the mud-slinging campaign targeting the PM. He added his party stands in solidarity with the PM against the “vicious attacks” on her personal affairs, asserting that such attacks are unacceptable. “We condemn the vicious, personal attacks on the prime minister even though we have differences of opinion on her agenda about the education reforms,” he said. Mr Rasamanickam also claimed they have seen that some of the attacks targeting the PM appear to be coming from within the government’s own ranks. “I would like to caution the prime minister to be mindful that certain sections within her own government gunning for her position might be involved in these efforts,” the ITAK MP added.

Parliament will reconvene at 9.30 am on January 20.