President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has emphasised the need to strengthen Sri Lanka’s vocational education sector alongside ongoing education reforms, stating that the Government is prepared to allocate the necessary funding through the 2027 Budget.
The President made the remarks during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of projects implemented under the 2026 Budget for the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and to discuss funding requirements for the 2027 Budget, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
The PMD said the Ministry received a total allocation of Rs. 303 billion under the 2026 Budget, including Rs. 160 billion for general education, Rs. 122 billion for higher education and Rs. 20 billion for vocational education.
During the meeting, officials reviewed the implementation of projects financed under the current budget, future development plans and the Ministry’s financial requirements for the coming year.
President Dissanayake stressed that budget allocations should be utilised based on national priorities and identified needs rather than being spent simply because funds have been allocated.
Officials noted that the vocational education sector received its largest-ever capital allocation this year, amounting to Rs. 8 billion.
They also reported that 57,959 students had enrolled during the first two quarters of 2026 across 310 Government vocational training institutions. Discussions focused on increasing annual student enrolment in vocational education programmes.
The meeting also examined plans to allocate a permanent site for the Ocean University, gradually increase admissions to the University of Vocational Technology from next year, and expand both the number and quality of University Colleges to improve access to technical degree and diploma programmes for students across the country.
The President also reviewed progress in the general education sector and stressed that projects funded through foreign assistance should only be undertaken if they align with Sri Lanka’s education policies and genuine national priorities, rather than creating an unnecessary debt burden.
Attention was also given to welfare programmes for schoolchildren, with the President instructing officials to prioritise assistance for those most in need based on the effectiveness of each programme.
He further stated that the President’s Fund remains available to support scholarship programmes and directed officials to submit proposals outlining future funding requirements.
The meeting also discussed increasing monthly financial assistance for students with special educational needs from 2026 onwards, as well as raising allowances paid to student teachers at National Colleges of Education.
Officials also briefed the President on issues relating to the existing student insurance scheme.
According to the PMD, the discussion further focused on plans to invest Rs. 382 billion in the education sector between 2027 and 2031, with particular attention given to the proposed Digital Transformation Project.
Officials also informed the President that rehabilitation work has commenced at 20 schools and National Colleges of Education damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, with Rs. 1.9 billion allocated for the programme.
The meeting also agreed that teacher shortages, vacancies among non-academic staff and salary anomalies within the education sector should be addressed through a coordinated public sector approach.
According to the PMD, a special commission will be appointed to recommend permanent solutions to these longstanding issues.