Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Nuwara - Eliya

Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education

Profession: Medical Doctor

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Speeches 125 #36 of 225·#17 in party

Attendance 5/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

125 speeches

6 February 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Deputy Minister requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Questions: Various (Q.3, Q.5, Q.6) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Deputy Minister requested two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Questions: Various (Q.3, Q.5, Q.6) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna said a building had initially been identified under the coordinating committee’s charter, but its allocation was opposed by a political group, creating the need to find an alternative. He stated that although another building was identified, it had not yet been secured, and said the Government would consider the specific building raised in the discussion and make a decision on it. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) EducationCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the District Coordinating Committee had decided to identify a school. His remarks were interrupted before further details or proposals were provided. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Education Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Senevirathna briefly began to refer to a matter being considered at the District Coordinating Committee. His remarks were interrupted before any substantive point, proposal, or request was stated. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna noted that the issue under discussion had been recurring for several months. His brief intervention was interrupted before any further details or proposals were stated. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the matter raised had already been subject to interventions over a period of time. No further details or specific measures were provided in the recorded excerpt. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister briefly indicated that he would respond to the matter before the House. His remarks were interrupted before any substantive response or policy position was recorded. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that a programme is being implemented with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Digital Economy, and Chinese assistance to provide digital devices to all provincial and national schools. He said this is intended to enable schools to shift to digital methods in the future without placing a burden on schools or parents, but added that digital devices are not required at present and that a digital operating system is being prepared for all schools. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) EducationInfrastructure Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary Grade 1 instruction under the new curriculum does not require digital boards or devices, while Grade 6 continues under the previous curriculum. The Minister said complaints had been received that some schools were collecting funds for smart boards and devices, and noted that the Prime Minister had clarified that collecting money from Grade 1 students for such equipment was unnecessary. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Education Read →
6 February 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Deputy Minister provided figures on schools in the Colombo Educational Zone, stating that it has 21 national schools and 101 provincial schools, with their names tabled in annexes. He reported vacancies of 665 teachers and 164 total non-academic posts in national schools, and 513 vacancies in provincial schools. He also stated that Rs. 490 million has been allocated for national school equipment, inputs, and building works in the Colombo Municipal Council area, while Rs. 443 million was used in 2025 for provincial school building repairs, with further provisions allocated for 2026. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Education Read →
5 February 2026 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna stated that the matter raised would be considered. Adjournment: Adjournment Questions and House Closure Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna supported amendments to the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, saying they introduce clearer and more democratic procedures for appointing, limiting the terms of, and removing Deans and Heads of Departments. He rejected claims that the Bill undermines university autonomy, and said wider higher education reforms are being developed through a National Committee with stakeholder consultations and a national policy to be published for public comment. He also cited increased 2026 budget allocations, higher student stipends, recruitment approvals, and infrastructure funding as measures aimed at improving universities, student welfare, and international rankings. Debate: Universities (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading Corruption & Governance ReformEducation Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna stated that school rationalization is based on standardized cluster-level criteria, including access, transport, population density and divisional and district committee decisions, rather than student numbers alone. He said selected cluster schools will be developed with full facilities, including sports grounds, infrastructure and A/L streams, to serve surrounding students. He also clarified that smart boards are not mandatory under the modular system, that schools should not collect funds for them, and that the Government has allocated funds to network about 6,000 schools and provide smart classroom facilities. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Education Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary Projects are being implemented across both centrally administered national schools and schools called national schools under Provincial Councils. A data system is being managed with the Digital Ministry and the Advisory Committee on Digital Economy to assess physical and human resources nationwide, address uneven distribution, and support data-driven budgeting and prioritization, including for Ratnapura. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives EducationPublic Finance Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna, replying on behalf of the Prime Minister and Education Minister, stated that 84 projects were implemented in Ratnapura District under the “Nearest School - The Best School” programme, with detailed reports placed in the Library. He said no development projects had been halted, and that only two Provincial Council projects in provincial schools remained ongoing, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Education Read →
22 January 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna argued that the current education reforms are a historically significant structural transformation, comparable to the Kannangara reforms of 1943, and are based on equity, equal access, sustainability, lifelong learning, and innovation. He said the reforms respond to long-standing concerns including examination pressure, textbook burdens, rural-urban disparities, unequal access, tuition culture, and competition, and are guided by policy work developed since 2018 and updated in 2024. He welcomed public discussion and constructive criticism but urged that education policy not be politicized, referring to recent controversy over a Grade 6 English module as an example of harmful political agitation. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Education Read →
22 January 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister, replying on behalf of the Education Minister, stated that there were 3,152 vacancies across Grades I–III of the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service as at 31 August 2025, while 2,494 non-SLPS officers were covering duties and 1,677 principals would be aged 57 by 30 September 2025. He said recruitment must follow the SLPS Service Minute through competitive examination and interview, and that a Gazette notification for new recruitment would be published within two weeks after PSC non-concurrence with an alternative proposal. He also said a proposed Education Council would address recruitment and promotion matters across education services, and that principals’ salary anomalies would be referred to the National Pay Commission within a broader framework. Oral Question Reply: Officers of Sri Lanka Principals' Service Public FinanceEducation Read →
22 January 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna, replying on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, said disabled students are currently admitted to selected university programmes, with facilities such as Braille and enlarged materials, screen-reading support, voice typing, extra examination time, scribes, accessible seating and library assistance. He stated that the UGC has approved a new policy to allow students with disabilities to enter any first degree programme, with Rs. 200 million planned to expand facilities from four to five universities and further Budget provisions expected in 2026. He added that proposals are being prepared to establish dedicated disability support centres in universities and to expand admissions beyond existing programme clusters to areas including Science and Medicine. Oral Question: Disabled Students Studying at State Universities - Facilities (Q. 1323/2025) Education Read →
21 January 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna said the 8561 cyclone affected over 2.2 million people and identified poor land-use planning, settlements on steep slopes and blocked natural water flows as key causes of landslide risk, pledging that resettlement and rebuilding would follow proper land-use plans. He stated that the Government had a Rs. 500 billion disaster recovery cash buffer and outlined education-sector impacts, including 1,682 affected schools, 822,000 students and 48,700 staff, with measures such as student grants, temporary learning arrangements, relaxed uniform rules, digital lessons through e-Thaksalawa and revised academic schedules. He said longer-term plans include reconstruction of 101 schools, intensive development of 36 severely damaged schools, repairs to 30 TVET institutions and assistance to higher education facilities, including the University of Peradeniya. He also noted student contributions to relief and cleanup efforts and said the Examinations Department ensured examination materials were protected and exams continued without incident. Adjournment Debate: Post-Cyclone "Ditwah" Situation (Part 2) EnvironmentEducationInfrastructure Read →