October 04, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya says the Government plans to complete the rollout of digital connectivity to secondary schools across Sri Lanka by the end of 2026, alongside efforts to ensure children use technology safely and responsibly.
Speaking at a World Children’s Day event at S. de S. Jayasinghe Stadium in Dehiwala on Friday, the Prime Minister said children remained at the centre of the Government’s policies and that measures affecting education, health and public services were being developed with their welfare in mind.
She said Children’s Day should serve as more than an annual celebration, arguing that it should reinforce the need for parents, schools and the State to provide children with secure and supportive environments throughout the year.
Education, she noted, would remain one of the Government’s principal areas of focus. A revised school curriculum is due to be introduced for Grades 2 and 6 in 2027 as part of wider efforts to modernise the education system.
Amarasuriya said work was also under way to upgrade school facilities and expand access to digital resources. The Government intends to have secondary schools nationwide connected to digital services by the end of this year, a move expected to broaden students’ access to educational technology and online learning opportunities.
The Prime Minister also highlighted concerns surrounding school transport and said discussions were being held with the Ministry of Transport to strengthen safety measures. The proposed improvements include minimum standards, regulatory requirements and practical guidelines for vehicles and services transporting schoolchildren.
She further stressed that children’s wellbeing extended beyond the classroom, pointing to nutrition, healthcare, food security and school meal programmes as areas requiring continued attention.
The importance of physical activity was also highlighted, with the Prime Minister saying children should have adequate opportunities to engage in sport and outdoor recreation. She said schools and communities must provide suitable facilities where children can play in safe surroundings.
The World Children’s Day programme was jointly organised by the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council and Independent Television Network (ITN) under the theme “Mahangu Sampatha – Daruwan Surakimu”.
Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof, MP Samanmali Gunasinghe, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Mayor K. D. Parakum Shantha, the Municipal Commissioner, as well as children and parents, attended the event.
