Kandy, Sri Lanka — January 26, 2026 – The National United Teachers’ Union (NUTU) yesterday confirmed that a disciplinary investigation has been launched against its Vice President in Kandy after he publicly criticised the implementation of the government’s ongoing education reforms. The move has drawn strong objections from union leaders, who view it as a threat to freedom of speech and expression.
According to NUTU Chief Secretary Ramith Wijesiri, the probe was triggered by a comment on social media in which the union’s Kandy Vice President criticised the way the reforms were being carried out by the Provincial Director of Education. Wijesiri said the investigation appears to be retaliatory and unjust, asserting that it violates constitutional rights.
“The disciplinary investigation has violated the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 14(1) of the Constitution,” Wijesiri said, adding that the union is considering legal action to challenge the inquiry.
The union official also criticised aspects of the education reform process itself, saying that teachers were given insufficient training to implement the changes and that reforms should have been trialled through a longer pilot programme rather than rushed into full implementation. “An education reform cannot be implemented all at once like a monkey census,” he stated, reflecting deep frustration among educators.
NUTU has also raised concerns about alleged irregularities in training module preparation, claiming that materials used in training included unapproved external links alongside the official content — a factor they say contributed to confusion and poor rollout.
The disciplinary action comes amid heated national debates over education reform in Sri Lanka, with teachers’ unions, parents, and experts pushing for broader consultation and improved planning. Many educators are calling on the government to ensure that reforms support effective learning outcomes and are not imposed without adequate preparation or consensus.
As of now, the investigation into the union leader continues, and both the union and education authorities have not indicated when the inquiry will conclude. The issue highlights ongoing tensions between teacher organisations and policymakers over how best to modernise Sri Lanka’s education system.
