50 New Vocational Universities to be Established for Youth Under Education Reforms – President

POLONNARUWA: National People’s Power (NPP) Leader, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, announced plans to establish 50 new vocational universities across the country to train a skilled workforce for the industrial, tourism, and technology sectors, targeting students graduating under new education reforms by 2034.

Addressing a farmers’ rally titled “Two Years of Government – Good for the Country” in Polonnaruwa, the President outlined the administration’s progress over the past two years, key economic achievements, and strategic plans for agriculture, education, and national development.

Key highlights from the President’s address include:

• Education Reforms & Vocational Universities: Starting from Grade 6, new education reforms will transform the school system. Underdeveloped small schools with fewer than 50 students will be replaced with fully equipped central schools (minimum 500 students) with proper transport facilities. The 50 new vocational universities will equip future graduates with industry-relevant skills.
  
• Economic Stabilization & Debt Management: The government successfully stabilized an economy disrupted by past mismanagement, debt defaults, and global crises. Having negotiated terms with international creditors to resume debt servicing by 2028, foreign aid and development projects have recommenced. Fiscal discipline enabled the highest treasury revenue in 30 years and the lowest budget deficit since 1957.
  
• Resilience Against Global and Natural Shocks: Despite challenges from Cyclone Ditwa and Middle East conflicts, the government allocated Rs. 500 billion for cyclone recovery and Rs. 100 billion to buffer global oil price surges, ensuring uninterrupted fuel and power supplies alongside a Rs. 100 fuel subsidy.
  
• Agricultural Revitalization: To address longstanding farming issues, the government is executing a multi-pronged approach:
  
  • Land Rights: Issuing 2 million land deeds over two and a half years under the Himikama program.
    
  • Irrigation: Investing Rs. 10,350 million to renovate 16,000 agricultural tanks and canals, initiating the Maduru Oya South Bank development (Rs. 10,420 million), Lower Malwathu Oya project (Rs. 47 billion), North Central Great Canal, and Wayamba Canal studies.
    
  • Input & Price Support: Expanding seed research, offering organic-chemical mixed fertilizer subsidies for additional inter-season crops, supplying quality pesticides at fair prices via CEYPETCO, and establishing an interest-free credit scheme of Rs. 7.5 billion for small and medium millers to stabilize paddy purchasing.
    
• Public Service Expansion: Approving the recruitment of 121,000 public servants based on merit, including 23,000 teachers and 10,000 police officers, to rebuild essential state infrastructure.
  
• Rule of Law & Anti-Corruption: Reaffirming the administration’s resolve to eliminate underworld gang networks, extradite fugitives, and investigate past atrocities and financial corruption without political interference or personal vengeance.

President Dissanayake concluded by calling on all citizens to stay united behind the government’s vision to rebuild the country and uplift the living standards of all Sri Lankans.

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