“The school system should not change on the lines of language or religion. We have entrusted the Minister with the responsibility of creating a public school system in the country again,” he said.The Prime Minister added that the country’s first Prime Minister inculcated the sense of Sri Lankan identity among the children of various communities through the public school system. He said the Central College concept promotes the Sri Lankan identity among the students.

“Since the 1970s, this system got changed, the student divided on the lines of religion and nationality. This division resulted in the July 1983 disturbances and the creation of the LTTE terrorist organization,” he said. The Prime Minister said that the Tamil people were distanced from other communities. The Prime Minister was addressing a ceremony to award diplomas to the National College of Education students at Temple Trees yesterday.

He also said it has been decided to appoint a board on the operation of the Madrasa schools with the consent of Muslim MPs and Ministers and bring those institutions under the Ministry of Education.