May 07, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya has announced that the Government is preparing a series of reforms for Sri Lanka’s higher education sector in line with the broader changes currently being introduced to the country’s school education system.
Speaking in Parliament in response to questions raised by MP Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka, the Prime Minister said a panel of experts appointed to review the sector has been working over the past six months to identify key shortcomings and recommend long-term reforms aimed at improving quality, access and relevance in higher education.
According to the Prime Minister, the committee’s findings are expected to guide future policy decisions and modernisation efforts across universities and other tertiary institutions.
Providing an update on university admissions, Dr Amarasuriya revealed that more than 281,000 students sat the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination, with over 176,000 becoming eligible for university entrance. However, only around 42,900 students are expected to secure placements in state universities this year, highlighting the continued competition for limited opportunities in the higher education system.
She noted that the Government intends to maintain undergraduate intake levels at a stable rate while simultaneously improving facilities and academic standards at universities nationwide.
The Prime Minister also announced the introduction of new degree programmes aimed at addressing evolving industry demands and technological advancement. Beginning from the 2025/2026 academic year, the University of Ruhuna will offer a programme in Geographic Information Systems, while the University of Peradeniya will launch a course in Electronic and Intelligent Systems Engineering. Each programme is expected to admit fifty students initially.
She added that arrangements relating to admission cut-off marks and student registration procedures have already been finalised.
During the parliamentary session, Dr Amarasuriya also addressed concerns regarding the preschool education sector in response to a question raised by MP K. Kader Mastan.
She acknowledged that the majority of preschools in Sri Lanka are operated privately, limiting the Government’s ability to provide permanent appointments or salaries for teachers. Nevertheless, she said steps are underway to provide financial allowances to selected volunteer teachers attached to preschools managed under Provincial Councils.
The Prime Minister further stated that the Government plans to introduce sweeping reforms to the preschool education system by 2027 through joint efforts involving the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
As part of these reforms, a national policy framework for preschool education is expected to be introduced in 2026 based on recommendations made by the National Education Commission. Preparations are also underway to introduce standardised teacher guidelines, classroom activity manuals and province-wide teacher training programmes.
Commenting on the issue of volunteer teachers, Dr Amarasuriya reiterated that the long-standing Cabinet policy restricting recruitment beyond the approved number of 4,700 teacher aides would remain in effect.