Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government aims to produce not only skilled artists but also doctors who empathize with a patient's pain and engineers who possess a genuine understanding of people.
The Prime Minister emphasized that aesthetic education is crucial to achieving this objective.
She made these remarks while attending the opening of Sri Rathnajothi Vidyalaya in Bataduwa, Galle, as a specialized school for aesthetic studies—featuring a full range of aesthetic subjects—with the aim of identifying and nurturing the artistic talents of children in the Southern Province.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister further noted that education is not merely about passing exams or accumulating certificates; rather, it is about molding sensitive and responsible citizens who understand the society they live in and are capable of bringing about positive change within it.
She pointed out that aesthetic education fosters children's creativity while also cultivating human qualities such as empathy for the pain of others and respect for diversity.