Heritage Alliance Lanka (HAL), a global network of Sri Lankan expatriate professionals dedicated to cultural heritage preservation, has submitted a formal position statement to Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, calling for transparency and meaningful public dialogue on the proposed 2026 school curriculum reform.
HAL welcomes the Government of Sri Lanka’s initiative to modernise the national curriculum, recognising its importance for creating a forward-thinking, student-centred education system.
However, the organisation has raised concerns about the status of History as a subject, particularly its removal from the Common Core Curriculum in senior secondary years, and its reduced credit weight compared to Common Core Curriculum subjects.
HAL also expressed its deep concern that History, which is not merely a subject but the foundation of identity, critical thinking, and civic understanding, may not be nationally assessed for many students under the proposed model.
The statement highlights that HAL has undertaken a comparative study of how History is taught and assessed globally, including in high-income nations and emerging economies.
HAL argues that, if implemented with modern pedagogy and updated content, including insights into patterns of cultural, political, and social change, civic values, and lessons to inform national decision-making, history can inspire students and help build a confident, independent, and prosperous Sri Lanka, an aspiration that aligns with the vision of the current government.
HAL also calls for the public release of the draft curriculum framework and offers its support as a dialogue partner in shaping reforms.
With a membership comprising professionals from 16 countries, many with decades of professional experience, including in education, HAL stands as the only truly international Sri Lankan heritage organisation of its kind.
Leave a comment