Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayanthsa announced plans to enact new legislation aimed at benefiting Sri Lanka's 4.3 million student population. Speaking at the 'Uplifting Education through Sustainable Mobility' program initiated by Hutch Sri Lanka at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Premajayantha emphasized the ongoing transformation in the country's education sector. He highlighted the need for modernizing education laws, drawing a comparison to the evolving educational frameworks even in countries like Britain. Premajayantha further stated that pilot projects encompassing 17 schools will soon be initiated as part of this transformation process.
The government aims to connect 1250 cluster schools across the country within a span of two years, ensuring that schools within a 10 to 15-kilometer radius offer comprehensive facilities. Sri Lanka has made strides in meeting IMF targets and anticipates commencing loan repayments by 2027. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Hutch intends to donate 130 e-bikes to teachers serving in rural schools.
Premajayantha elaborated, stating, "The donation of 130 electric bicycles to our rural schools, with the potential for more units in the future, aligns with our collective vision for a sustainable future supported by a robust education system. As we strive to embed sustainability within our educational framework, collaborations such as this highlight the crucial involvement of corporate entities in promoting community development and educational advancement".
"I applaud HUTCH for their steadfast dedication and anticipate further collaborative endeavors that propel our national educational objectives forward, emphasizing sustainable solutions. Presently, the government, through its targeted initiatives to reconstruct the nation, has amassed foreign reserves nearing USD 5 billion. With the surge in tourist arrivals, augmented remittances, and increased Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), Sri Lanka is poised to bolster its reserves further. These foreign currency inflows will strengthen the Central Bank's ability to allocate funds for debt servicing by 2027. Import restrictions, except for motor vehicles, have been lifted, while the country's economic ratings have also seen an uptick", further added.
The e-bikes were officially handed over at a ceremony, with Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha present as the Chief Guest. Among the other guests were, Chairman, Dr. Dharmasri Kumaratunge and Director General Madhushanka Dissanayake of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL). Representing HUTCH were the Director of Hutchison Asia Telecommunications (HAT), Ms. Anne Chen, who made a special visit to the island for the occasion and the CEO of Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka (HUTCH Sri Lanka) Saumitra Gupta.
Speaking at the event Saumitra Gupta said, "At HUTCH, we’re dedicated to sustainable practices, community upliftment and advancing technology. This project signifies our commitment to benefit the wider community, particularly in education. It’s just the beginning; we’re gearing up for more contributions to sustainable mobility. With initiatives like this, we strive for lasting impact, promoting inclusivity and sustainability".
