Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasized the importance of aesthetic education in developing not only talented artists, but also professionals who possess empathy, creativity and a strong sense of humanity.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while attending the opening of the Galle Bataduwa Sri Rathanajothi Vidyalaya, a specialized school offering all aesthetic subjects, aimed at identifying and nurturing the artistic talents of children in the Southern Province.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Amarasuriya said the present government's objective is to develop a generation capable of contributing to society in diverse fields, including medicine and engineering.
She said the country needs doctors who can understand the pain of their patients and engineers who possess a strong sense of humanity, noting that aesthetic education has an important role to play in developing these qualities.
The Prime Minister stressed that education should not be limited to passing examinations and obtaining certificates. Instead, she said, the education system should produce sensitive and responsible citizens who understand the society in which they live and are capable of contributing to positive change.
According to the Prime Minister, aesthetic education helps develop children's creativity while also fostering important human values, including empathy, respect for diversity and the ability to understand the experiences of others.
New opportunities in creative industries
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya also highlighted the growing economic importance of aesthetic education, pointing to emerging opportunities in fields beyond traditional academic disciplines.
She said forthcoming education reforms are expected to introduce new areas of study that can be linked directly with the economy and prepare Sri Lankan students for changing global employment and professional opportunities.
Among the emerging fields she identified were digital art, new media, film, music technology and the wider creative industries.
The Prime Minister said Sri Lankan children should be equipped to take advantage of these opportunities as the global economy continues to evolve.
She also announced that arrangements have been made to implement education reforms for Grades 2 and 6 next year. Cabinet approval was granted on September 28 for the 13-year curriculum framework, the concept paper of the National Education Commission and the student assessment framework** connected with the reforms.
‘Opportunities are opening up to us’
Reflecting on recent achievements by Sri Lankans in different fields, Dr. Amarasuriya said the country is going through a period of transformation and awakening.
She pointed to Sri Lanka's growing achievements in areas including film and sport, noting that a Sri Lankan film had, for the first time, been selected for submission to the Academy Awards, while athlete Rumesh Tharanga had won a gold medal at the Asian Games.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that the newly opened Bataduwa Rathanajothi School of Aesthetic Education would become the starting point for further achievements by Sri Lankan students on the international stage.
She told students that global opportunities were increasingly accessible and encouraged them to view the establishment of the school as an important beginning.
