The Government will continue to prioritize investment in education despite Sri Lanka’s economic challenges, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister A.B.M. Ashraf said, stressing that the country’s future depends on developing its human capital.Speaking at a ceremony where 50 Lenovo laptops were distributed to outstanding G.C.E. Advanced Level students, Ashraf said Sri Lanka has never reduced spending on education, health and human development, even during periods of severe economic hardship.

“We may have faced financial difficulties and even bankruptcy, but we have never considered reducing investment in education. Instead, we have increased it because our future depends on our children,” he said.Ashraf said the Government’s commitment to education would continue through a nationwide digital transformation program aimed at modernizing schools and improving access to technology.

As part of the initiative, all 10,000 schools in Sri Lanka are expected to be connected to the internet. He said schools would primarily be linked through fibre networks, while 4G, 5G and satellite technologies would be used in areas where fibre connectivity is not commercially viable.He added that the Government also plans to upgrade local area networks, improve computer laboratories and ensure all secondary schools are digitally connected to meet the demands of modern education.

Ashraf said more than 1,500 secondary schools, mainly in remote and underserved areas, still lack computer laboratories. These schools will receive fully equipped computer labs, including computers, networking facilities and furniture, next year.He also revealed that the Government has already achieved its target of providing at least one digital classroom to each of Sri Lanka’s approximately 6,200 secondary schools, addressing a digital divide that had left around 2,500 schools without even a single digital board.

In addition, more than 500 schools without functioning computers and around 100 divisional education offices were provided with operational computer equipment last year.

Congratulating the students who received laptops, Ashraf described their academic achievements as an important milestone and assured them that the Government would continue supporting their education and development.

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