Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stressed the need to modernize Sri Lanka’s education and assessment systems by moving beyond an examination-centered model and placing greater emphasis on skills, creativity, experiential learning and holistic development.

Speaking at the public lecture “250 Years of Educational Excellence: Lessons from a Sri Lankan American” in Colombo on Wednesday (12), the Prime Minister said reforming the assessment system was a key component of the Government’s ongoing education reforms.The lecture was delivered by Fulbright Specialist Dr. Priyanvada Abeywickrama and organized by the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission.

Dr. Amarasuriya said the reforms were intended to reduce excessive reliance on examinations while encouraging activity-based and experiential learning among students.However, she stressed that the Government did not intend to discard the strengths of Sri Lanka’s existing education system, which has produced generations of academically successful citizens.Instead, the reforms would seek to modernize the system to better respond to the demands of the present and future, she said.The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening digital literacy among teachers, principals and parents, while ensuring that academic and vocational education pathways are given equal recognition and validity.

She expressed appreciation to Dr. Abeywickrama for her month-long contribution to the education reform process, noting that international expertise and collaboration would be vital to its successful implementation.The Prime Minister also thanked the Fulbright Commission, the Postgraduate Institute of English of the Open University of Sri Lanka, the Department of Examinations and other officials and partners involved in the initiative.

Dr. Amarasuriya reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working with local and international experts to develop an inclusive, modern and future-ready education system for Sri Lanka.

The United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission is an autonomous bi-national commission that has promoted mutual understanding and peace between the two countries through academic, cultural and professional exchanges since 1952.