· China to fund USD 20 million for digitalising Sri Lanka’s general education sector through a bilateral agreement.
· 500 schools to receive smart equipment, along with a model smart classroom and operational control rooms at the Education Ministry.
· Supports Sri Lanka’s 2026 education reform, accelerating the country's shift toward tech-enabled learning environments.
A major move towards modernising Sri Lankan education, a formal accord was reached on June 25 between China and Sri Lanka to set up a massive digital education project. The project, supported by a USD 20 million grant provided by China, will address the upgradation of the general education sector using smart technologies and digital infrastructure.
It is a result of a two-way agreement that came about during Sri Lankan President's state visit to China this year where both sides decided to expedite the digitalization of the education sector.
In terms of the approved proposal by the Minister of Education, the initiative will first outfit 500 chosen schools with cutting-edge digital resources and establish a model smart classroom to showcase next-generation learning spaces. The Ministry of Education building at Isurupaya will also house a separate Network Operations Management Unit, Programme Operations Room, and state-of-the-art Conference Room to manage and coordinate the program.
This partnership is anticipated to take a central position in Sri Lanka's future education reform programme, which will be initiated in 2026.
The signing event was witnessed by some dignitaries such as Zhang Guanbin, Director General of International Economic Cooperation Organisation at China's Ministry of Commerce, Deputy Head Hao Jinping, Project Officer Don Yixuan, and the Chinese Embassy in Colombo representatives. From Sri Lanka, there were Dr. Madura Seneviratne, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary to the Ministry, and other high-ranking officials.
