Sri Lankan Prime Minister Calls for Transformative, Collaborative Education at Regional Conference

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasized that education is a collective endeavor with the power to unite societies politically, socially, and economically. She made these remarks in Colombo while addressing a regional conference focused on strengthening cooperation across Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific on the role of education in driving the Green Transition.

The event is part of the European Union–funded Erasmus+ Programme, one of the world’s leading initiatives for international collaboration in education, training, youth, and sports. The programme supports mobility, intercultural exchange, capacity building, and policy development, while creating opportunities for Sri Lanka in higher education, vocational training, youth engagement, and institutional partnerships. The conference runs until November 20 in Colombo.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya noted that although Sri Lanka has achieved high literacy as a legacy of its post-colonial education model, the system has increasingly become centered on individual achievement and fierce competition. She stressed the need to shift towards a more collaborative, transformative approach that values shared knowledge, collective responsibility, and environmental awareness—particularly in a world increasingly challenged by misinformation and global crises.

She highlighted that true education should foster mutual success, encourage the exchange of ideas, and build responsibility toward communities and the planet. Such a transition, she said, is essential not only for overcoming pressures within higher education but also for shaping a more inclusive and future-ready society.

The conference was attended by EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka Carmen Moreno, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, along with regional representatives and government officials.