Parents, religious leaders, and education authorities clash over delayed reforms, with growing protests raising urgent questions about children’s futures and the government’s next move.
Parents of Grade 6 students in the Nuwara Eliya area staged a protest in front of the Nuwara Eliya Main Post Office on January 20, 2026, demanding the immediate implementation of new education reforms. The protest highlighted growing frustration over delays and uncertainty surrounding the revised curriculum, particularly the controversial English learning module.
The protesting parents said that while concerns exist about the English module, authorities should not waste valuable time and should proceed with teaching learning modules related to other subjects. They warned that if the issue is not resolved soon, they are prepared to bring schoolchildren onto the streets and escalate the protest, chanting slogans against the government during the demonstration.
The issue reached religious leaders when a parents’ organization representing Grade 6 students visited the Mahanayake of the Malwatta Maha Viharaya, Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero, and handed over a memorandum requesting his intervention to implement the education reforms within this year. Questioning their stance, the Mahanayake asked why parents were calling for the same reforms when even the Prime Minister has admitted that mistakes were made.
He said, “The government has admitted that there are some mistakes in this reform process. The duties of several others who are said to be involved in this have even been suspended. The implementation of the reforms has been postponed for a year. So, in spite of that, it is a problem for us to request the same to be implemented again for children. One group says that these reforms are harmful to children and should be stopped. Another group is asking for implementation. As we understand it, it would be better if these reforms were carried out in a proper manner by involving scholars, scholars, and professors in the field of education. There are many expert professors in this country.”
In response, the parents’ association told the Mahanayake that as the world opens new avenues in education, Sri Lankan children must move beyond a purely traditional system to be prepared for the future. They stressed that education reforms are essential and that a few minor mistakes should not be used to sabotage children’s futures.
The group also met the Mahanayake of the Asgiri Maha Viharaya, Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero, who advised all parties to engage in dialogue and arrive at the right decision for the benefit of children.
Speaking to the media, association member Janani Tellamure appealed to electronic, print, and social media not to support disruptions to her children’s education, insisting that the education reforms should be implemented this year without further delay.
