本論文主要目的在探討斯里蘭卡免費教育政策的執行及挑戰，這對後2015年發展議題中的公平與與永續發展有所啟發，焦點主要集中在教育品質的改善，確保受教的公平，經費補助與永續發展。免費教育政策肇始於1945年，是斯里蘭卡社會發展史上的里程碑，因為他為平民奠定向上社會流動的基石，促進社會公平原則。獨立後，這個政策受到歷任政府的支持，但是經年累月下來不斷遭到滲透，衝突日漸顯著。自從1977年引進「開放經濟政策」後，這些挑戰日益浮現，主要治理上的議題包括中、小學入學、高等教育受教機會、私校設立與學費、教育投資等。

This paper aims to describe the unseen features of the implementation of the free education policy and its challenges in Sri Lanka. This will be useful in addressing equity and sustainability issues in relation to the post-2015 development agenda for education and it is focused on improving the quality of education, ensuring equity of schooling, resourcing and sustainability. The free education policy introduced in 1945. This policy is a landmark in the history of social development in Sri Lanka as it paved the way for upward social mobility for the ordinary people and thereby enhanced the principle of social equity. This policy has been upheld by all successive governments in Sri Lanka since independence, but over the years it has got diluted and contradictions are apparent. These challenges have emerged since the introduction of the “open economic policies” since 1977. The major issues are in the area of governance, such as access to primary and secondary education, opportunities for higher education, private tuition, establishment of private schools and investment on education.