An NPP MP dismisses the Grade 6 textbook controversy as manufactured politics, vowing that women will mobilize nationwide to defend education reforms and the Prime Minister from what she calls deliberate misinformation.
Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe of the National People’s Force says the growing controversy surrounding a Grade 6 module introduced under the new education reforms is a calculated political conspiracy rather than a genuine concern for children or the country. Speaking to the media, she insisted that the issue has been deliberately distorted for narrow political objectives.
According to Gunasinghe, the content of the module has caused no harm to schoolchildren or to Sri Lanka as a nation. She said claims suggesting otherwise are being pushed to mislead the public and create unnecessary fear around education reform. In her view, the criticism has little to do with student welfare and far more to do with undermining reform initiatives.
“Through this process, the children of this country or the country have not been harmed in any way. Some people are trying to distort this for narrow purposes,” she said.
She also strongly rejected what she described as low level attacks and personal accusations directed at the Prime Minister in connection with the textbook issue. Gunasinghe said such statements are unfair and politically motivated.
The MP added that she is prepared to lead a broad effort to educate women across Sri Lanka about what she called false propaganda spread by the opposition. She warned that women would not hesitate to take to the streets if misinformation continues.
Gunasinghe concluded by stressing that meaningful education reforms must not be sabotaged for political gain and that progress in the education sector will be defended.
