The textbooks which are used at present in the elementary pirivenas were prepared in 1994 and not updated so far. Drawing attention to this matter, steps have been taken to update the textbooks and distribute among students as per instructions of Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.
There are about 60,000 student monks and lay students receiving education in 754 pirivenas in the island. Updating textbooks relevant to grades 1 to 5 in the pirivenas are being done under the instructions of the Director of Pirivena Education, Ven. Prof. Nabiriththankadawala Gnanarathana Thera.
A workshop was held recently by the Education Publications Department and the Pirivena Education branch at the Faculty of Humanities of Kelaniya University with the participation of textbook writers and editors of all subjects.