Open University is the Only State University Offering Flexible Higher Education for Working Professionals – PM Harini Amarasuriya
Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated that the Open University of Sri Lanka is the only state university that enables working individuals to pursue higher education at any stage of their careers.
She made these remarks during a discussion held on June 5, 2026, with lecturers, administrative officials, and government officers at the Kurunegala Regional Centre of the Open University.
The discussion focused on finding permanent solutions to long-standing issues at the Kurunegala Regional Centre, including limited space, inadequate lecture halls, infrastructure shortcomings, and sanitation-related concerns.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister noted that land required to address the university’s space constraints has already been secured, and emphasized the need to move forward with planning, securing funding, and commencing development work without delay.
She also highlighted that the government has officially launched efforts to digitize education and reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the ongoing education reform process.
According to the Prime Minister, preparations are underway to implement education reforms for Grade 2 and Grade 6 students in 2027. She further stated that all second and third term textbooks required for the Grade 1 education reforms introduced this year have already been published.
Teacher training programmes for the upcoming reforms are also scheduled to commence next year.
Speaking on teacher competency examinations, Dr. Amarasuriya said that approval has been received from the Public Service Commission following discussions on the matter, and that the government expects to resolve related issues within this year.
She further revealed that Cabinet approval has been granted to address salary anomalies within the principals’ service, and that the Ministry is currently taking the necessary steps to resolve the long-standing issue.
The event was attended by Kurunegala District Member of Parliament Dharmapriya Dissanayake, regional representatives, Director of the Open University’s Kurunegala Regional Centre Anushka Bandara, lecturers, and a large number of government officials.
– Prime Minister’s Media Division
