Sri Lanka: President Dissanayake Vows Legal Framework for Education Reforms After Meeting FUTA

By Lions Roar News Education Desk

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (Wednesday, January 21, 2026) — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the government is moving to establish a formal, legally-backed mechanism to oversee national education reforms. The move aims to resolve ongoing friction by integrating university academics, specialists, and all key stakeholders into the decision-making process.

The President made these remarks during a high-stakes meeting with the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.

🏛️ Addressing the Reform Deadlock

The discussion centered on the current structure of education reforms, which FUTA argued is too heavily reliant on the National Institute of Education (NIE) under outdated regulations.

Key Issues Raised by FUTA:

Structural Flaws: Academics pointed out that the current legal framework limits the input of university-level experts in shaping primary and secondary curricula.
Rural Priority: FUTA emphasized that while they support reform, the focus must shift toward rural schools, where students lack the resources and modern educational tools available to their urban counterparts.
Academic Contribution: The association expressed its readiness to contribute expert knowledge provided a transparent and inclusive platform is created.

📜 The Government’s Response

President Dissanayake acknowledged the concerns and reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding the university system.

New Legal Mechanism: The President directed officials to draft a mechanism that bridges the gap between the NIE and university academics to ensure reforms are scientifically and pedagogically sound.
University Act Amendments: Discussions were held regarding long-overdue amendments to the University Act to modernize higher education governance.
Economic Link: The President linked education to the broader national recovery plan, urging academics to support the government’s efforts to rebuild the economy following recent natural disasters and financial instability.

“We are committed to taking every possible measure to protect the education system and ensure that university academics are empowered to lead these reforms,” President Dissanayake stated.

📊 Education Reform Progress: 2026

Reform Area	Status / Action Taken	Stakeholder Role
Legal Framework	Mechanism being established	Integration of FUTA & Experts
University Act	Amendments under discussion	Policy Modernization
Rural Education	Identified as high-priority focus	Infrastructure & Reform Equity
Teacher Welfare	Proposals submitted to President	Retention of Academic Talent