Sri Lanka: Sajith Denies Blocking Education Reforms, Slams Gov’t Over “Adult Site” Textbook Blunder
By Lions Roar News Political & Education Desk
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (Wednesday, January 21, 2026) — Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa took to the floor of Parliament today to clarify the opposition’s stance on educational reforms, while simultaneously launching a stinging critique of the government’s Aswesuma poverty alleviation scheme and the recent Grade 6 textbook scandal.
Premadasa firmly denied allegations that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was attempting to block the rollout of reforms for Grade 1 and Grade 6 students, instead blaming government negligence for major errors in newly distributed materials.
📚 “We Are Not Against Reforms”
Responding to government claims, Premadasa questioned why the opposition was being blamed for delays. He pointed out that the recent inclusion of an adult website link in the Grade 6 English module was a failure of the state, not the opposition.
“Did we say not to implement the Grade 1 and Grade 6 education reforms? No. It was your officials who named an adult website in the English module for children to learn from. Did the opposition do that? You did that. We never opposed education reforms,” Premadasa told the House.
He emphasized that while the SJB supports modernizing education, it demands high standards and accountability from the officials responsible for curriculum development.
📉 Aswesuma: “Not a Real Poverty Cure”
Shifting focus to the economy, Premadasa argued that the Aswesuma welfare program is a temporary band-aid rather than a sustainable solution to poverty. He called for a more integrated economic model to lift Sri Lankans out of financial distress.
Premadasa’s Blueprint for Poverty Alleviation:
For a program to truly eliminate poverty, he argued it must center on:
- Production & Investment: Creating local jobs and industry.
- Consumption & Saving: Encouraging financial stability for families.
- Export-Oriented Growth: Linking local production to global markets.
“Aswesuma is not a poverty eradication program in its current form. To be successful, it must be an integrated program focused on production, investment, and exports,” he added.
📊 Comparison: Opposition vs. Government Proposals
| Topic | Government Position (Current) | SJB/Opposition Position |
| Education Reform | Rolling out Grade 1 & 6 updates. | Supports reforms, but slams “adult link” errors. |
| Poverty Welfare | Aswesuma (Cash transfers). | Needs integrated production/export model. |
| Accountability | Blaming delays on opposition. | Blaming failures on departmental officials. |
