Two Key Committees Drive Education Reforms; National Steering Committee Meets

In a related development concerning education reforms, the National Steering Committee on Education Reforms convened on April 6, 2026, at the Ministry of Education in Isurupaya. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who also holds the portfolios of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education. This committee, distinct from the expert committee focused on National Colleges of Education, was appointed with Cabinet approval and is responsible for overseeing the entire education reform process, ensuring the systematic regulation of all its aspects and stakeholders to implement high-quality reforms. Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Dr. Anura Karunathilake, serves as the chairman of this National Steering Committee.

The expert committee appointed to enhance standards and restructure the National Colleges of Education has been identified. Professor Liyanage Amarakeerthi of the University of Peradeniya chairs the committee, with Professor Arosha Adikaram of the University of Colombo, Professor Poobalasundaram Iyengaran of the University of Jaffna, and P.A.D. Anil, a retired Senior Lecturer from the Sri Lanka Teacher Education Service, serving as members. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the committee members on April 2, 2026, at the Ministry of Education in Isurupaya, stressing the need for National Colleges of Education to produce capable teachers with leadership qualities to achieve national educational transformation goals. The committee is tasked with recommending measures to strengthen the overall institutional framework of these colleges.