Govt. to ensure digital connectivity in secondary schools by year-end: PM
The Government is working to ensure digital connectivity in secondary schools across the country by the end of this year, while promoting the safe use of digital technology among children, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said.
Addressing the 2026 World Children’s Day celebration held at the S. de S. Jayasinghe Stadium in Dehiwala on Friday (3), the Prime Minister said every child in the country was important to the Government and that all government actions were aimed at ensuring their well-being.She said World Children’s Day should not be viewed as an event limited to a single day, but as a reminder of the responsibility to create a safe and secure environment for children.The Prime Minister said education remained a key priority, as it played a vital role in shaping children into responsible citizens. A new curriculum is scheduled to be introduced for Grades 2 and 6 in 2027, she said.She added that the Government was systematically developing school infrastructure and digital facilities, with plans to provide digital connectivity to secondary schools nationwide by the end of 2026.Amarasuriya also said the Government was working with the Ministry of Transport to improve the safety of school transportation services by introducing minimum safety standards, laws, regulations and guidelines.
She stressed the importance of children’s health, food security, healthcare and school meals, while highlighting the need to promote sports in schools.“Children should be given the opportunity to play freely. It is our responsibility to create an environment with the necessary infrastructure and safety for them to do so,” she said.The World Children’s Day celebration, organized jointly by the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council and the Independent Television Network (ITN) under the theme “Mahangu Sampatha – Daruwan Surakimu”, was attended by Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof, MP Samanmali Gunasinghe, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Mayor K. D. Parakum Shantha, the Municipal Commissioner, children and parents.