“When We Empowered the Youth, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Shackled Their Potential”

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that his White Paper proposal to introduce English education for all school students was obstructed by the JVP’s opposition, depriving many young Sri Lankans of this valuable opportunity. He also criticized the JVP for “chaining the legs” of the youth, hindering their development.
The President stated that education is like wings for the youth, enabling them to reach their full potential and explore limitless opportunities. He highlighted his substantial contributions as the Minister of Education, noting his significant role in advancing school education in Sri Lanka.
In a special statement today (08) addressing the youth of the country, President Wickremesinghe pointed out that the JVP’s actions, including the killings of university vice-chancellors and lecturers, caused a decade-long setback in the education sector.
The President explained further:
“Education is a tremendous asset for the youth of our country. With the right opportunities, they can soar to great heights. This is why we established the free education system. D.S. Senanayake initiated D.S. Senanayake College, and President J.R. Jayewardene introduced the program providing free textbooks to school students. During my tenure as Minister of Education, I oversaw teacher examinations and recruitment, established the Education Administration Service, and launched Colleges of Education specifically for teacher training. We also introduced computer education, which was later integrated with the internet. Financial support was provided to Pirivenas, and the National Institute of Education was founded. These initiatives significantly improved the quality of education. While there was only one university at the time, today we have 17.
I proposed in the White Paper to provide English education to all school students, but the JVP opposed this initiative. Their nationwide campaign prevented its implementation, depriving many young people of the chance to learn English. Despite our efforts, the JVP’s opposition has limited our progress.

There was a significant 5-10 year delay in university education due to the JVP’s actions. Vice-Chancellors like Patuwathavithane and Stanley Wijesundara, along with many teachers, were killed. This violence caused numerous students to drop out of university, and the desire for higher education declined. Over 50 teachers and principals were murdered, severely disrupting school education. Our education system experienced nearly a decade of setbacks due to this destruction.
Despite any opposition, I am dedicated to ensuring that every student has access to English education by advancing the “English for All” program, which is crucial for their future success.”

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