The highest amount allocated for education in history has been made in next year’s (2026) Budget, Prime Minister and Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya claimed. 

The Premier made these remarks in the Parliament during the debate on the Budget allocation for the Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry. The Budget Heads of Expenditure (HoEs) of the Ministry were passed with amendments, without a vote, on Tuesday (25).

She pointed out that although successive Governments had introduced various education policies, significant curricular reform had not changed in the school curricula due to poor planning, weak institutional structures, and inadequate financial allocations.

Referring to the recent report presented by the committee appointed to address issues at the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, she noted that past decision-making processes had deteriorated due to the influence of personal interests and political agendas.

She further stated this had undermined university standards and resulted in injustices to students. Similar structural weaknesses had affected many institutions across the education sector.

She noted that a sum of Rs. 7.04 billion, equivalent to 2.04% of the gross domestic product (GDP), has been allocated for education in the current Budget, marking the highest allocation in many years. She reiterated the Government does not claim to reach 6% of the GDP benchmark within the first year.

Additionally, Rs. 3,000 million has been allocated for education reforms, under which current initiatives are being implemented. She stated the expenditures for this year (2025) were discussed and the Budget was passed at the end of April 2025, and the Government began expenditure from May. Accordingly, the financial progress was 18%, and that by December 2025, it would have reached 69%, she said.