Sri Lanka announces major education and digitalisation reforms

The Sri Lankan government has announced three major pillars of an education reform programme, including a new curriculum framework, a massive digitalisation project, and a unified university admissions system. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya detailed these developments during a meeting at Parliament on October 9.

First, the Cabinet has approved a new concept paper on education reforms, a revised National Curriculum Framework, and a student assessment framework for Grades 1 to 11. The assessment framework for G.C.E. Advanced Level students remains under development.

Second, a five-year, Rs. 96 billion school digitalisation project has received policy-level approval. This initiative includes guidelines for online safety and digital well-being. A pilot project is scheduled for November, with full implementation expected by early 2027.

Third, starting in 2028, the government intends to launch a single application platform for higher education. This system will allow students to apply to universities, National Colleges of Education, and vocational training institutions through one unified portal to reduce administrative difficulties.