The government has allocated a historic Rs. 749 billion for education in the 2027 Budget, marking the largest-ever investment in the country's education sector, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya announced.

Of the total allocation, Rs. 562.4 billion has been earmarked specifically for school education, reflecting the government's commitment to improving educational opportunities and implementing comprehensive education reforms, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister made these remarks today (15) while attending celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Akkaraipattu Muslim National School.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Amarasuriya said every child in the country had the right to receive quality education and that providing opportunities for all children to fulfil their aspirations remained a responsibility of the government.

She highlighted the importance of ensuring that students complete all 13 years of school education, particularly stressing that school attendance was compulsory for students in the G.C.E. Ordinary Level and Advanced Level grades.

Expressing concern over students discontinuing their education during the senior grades, she urged parents to take responsibility for ensuring their children attend school regularly and complete their education.

Referring to the ongoing education reforms, the Prime Minister said the new curriculum was introduced for Grade 1 in 2026, with plans to extend it to Grades 2 and 6 in 2027.

She explained that the reforms aimed to go beyond examination-oriented learning by equipping students with technological knowledge, vocational skills, leadership qualities and the ability to work collaboratively.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stressed that technological literacy had become an essential life skill as rapid technological advancements continued to transform every field of employment.

She said the government's objective was to develop students who could not only succeed academically but also contribute positively to society and face the challenges of a changing world.

The Prime Minister called on parents, teachers and other stakeholders to work together to ensure equal access to quality education for all children.

During the anniversary celebrations, certificates and medals were presented to students who had achieved success in All-Island competitions. The Prime Minister also visited the school's Information Technology Laboratory.