Wimal launches ‘Harini Go Home’ campaign against PM

Monday, 12 January 2026 01:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A political activist collective, headed by National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa, has said it will begin an open-ended protest outside Sri Lanka’s Education Ministry today, demanding the reversal of newly proposed education reforms and calling for the resignation of Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The protest is being organised by a group calling itself Adults Standing for Children and is scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. today (12). The group’s convener, Weerawansa, made the announcement at a media briefing in Colombo on Saturday.

Weerawansa said parents from across the country were being invited to take part in the continuous sit-in, stressing that participation was not restricted by political affiliation.

He argued that the proposed reforms do not ensure equal educational opportunities and could negatively affect students’ long-term prospects. According to him, the changes were being pushed through without sufficient consultation and risked turning education into a commercial exercise rather than a public good.

Weerawansa also questioned the inclusion of website links and YouTube channels in school curricula, claiming that some material were unsuitable for children. He alleged that directing large numbers of students to such platforms could generate significant revenue and called for an inquiry into potential financial beneficiaries.

Any reforms impacting schoolchildren should be introduced carefully, he said, adding that pilot programs and extensive consultation with education professionals were essential before a nationwide rollout.

The protest will continue, he said, until the Government withdraws the proposed education reforms.