Reportedly, 11,000 staff will lose their jobs if schools with fewer than 50 students are closed.

Mr. Priyantha Fernando, President of the Ceylon Teachers' Union, points out that the government's main objective under the program to close schools with fewer than 50 students is to reduce the academic staff by approximately 11,000. He further states that there are plans to close 1,506 schools with fewer than 50 students in the country, and approximately 48,000 students, 9,882 teachers, and 1,506 principals and acting principals are employed in those schools.

Mr. Priyantha Fernando, who released a special statement revealing this information, further commented on the matter.

Mr. Fernando stated that among the schools slated for closure are 159 schools in the North Central Province, and out of these, 8 schools have already been closed. He also revealed that during a recent discussion with the President, when this matter was discussed, the President emphasized that this program would definitely be implemented.

He mentioned that Article 8 of the newly issued Circular 34/2025 directly states that schools with fewer than 50 children should be closed. As a first step, it is reported that approximately 500 schools have already been notified not to admit children to Grade 1 for the year 2026, and he explained that this would lead to those schools facing a 'natural death' by next year. The Ceylon Teachers' Union, pointing out that this will achieve the government's objective, strongly opposes this process, Mr. Priyantha Fernando emphasized.

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Sri Lanka, as a country, has agreed to provide free primary education to all children and ensure their safety. However, Mr. Fernando alleges that this government policy completely deviates from those agreements. He particularly points out that the closure of these schools will widen the opportunity for children in rural areas to lose access to education.