President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated that he will not allow any groups to hold school children hostage and that he may declare schools as an essential service if teacher issues are not resolved soon. The President made these remarks during a national ceremony for the distribution of free textbooks and uniforms to school children held at the Colombo Sanghamitta Girls’ College. Wickremesinghe emphasized that education is as important as the country’s economy and that the government must develop a genuine educational procedure provided in schools. He added that the IMF plans presented on the creation of a new economy in the country will create jobs for the future, and education is a model that should come from the school. The President emphasized that a school cannot be separated from the actions of its principal and teachers, who have the main responsibility of providing education.