Hon. Nalin Hewage, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Galle

Deputy Minister of Vocational Education

Profession: ---

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 38 #122 of 225·#65 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

38 speeches

21 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Nalin Hewage said the Government intends to strengthen schools close to children’s homes to reduce long-distance travel, citing cases of students travelling 60-70 km for education. He stated that around Rs. 1,700 crore has been allocated to state education over the last two Budgets and that these funds will be used to develop village schools with adequate physical and human resources. He also noted plans to consolidate or merge schools where appropriate to create a stronger local school system. Oral Question Q.1371/2025: Suraksha Student Insurance Scheme Education Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary Student insurance was described as a beneficial scheme that provides relief to students, while acknowledging that it has shortcomings. The Ministry of Education is studying the issue and intends to submit a special Cabinet Paper, during which members’ suggestions may be considered. Oral Question Q.1371/2025: Suraksha Student Insurance Scheme Education Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Nalin Hewage provided details on the Suraksha Student Insurance Scheme, launched on 1 October 2017 to support students facing illness, accidents or disabilities and improve access to treatment and school attendance. He set out annual beneficiary numbers, identified the contracted insurers for each period, and noted that the scheme was not in operation from 2 December 2022 to 30 June 2024. He stated that the current scheme will run until 31 August 2027 and that the Government intends to continue the insurance mechanism in future years to benefit more schoolchildren. Oral Question Q.1371/2025: Suraksha Student Insurance Scheme HealthcareEducation Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister acknowledged the service rendered by the personnel concerned and stated that the Department of Management Services has been asked to establish a recruitment mechanism. He expressed confidence that this process would be completed soon, allowing recruitment and confirmation to proceed. Oral Question Q.1303/2025: Acting Teacher Advisers and Resource Persons in Eastern Province Employment Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister of Vocational Education stated that action is being taken to address recruitment, with the Department of Management Services already informed. He said a new call will be arranged for those not included in the previous intake, enabling them to apply and be recruited through the proper process. Oral Question Q.1303/2025: Acting Teacher Advisers and Resource Persons in Eastern Province EmploymentEducation Read →
21 May 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister, responding on behalf of the Prime Minister and Education Minister, said lists of officers serving on an acting or covering basis as In-Service Advisers and “Resource Persons” in national and provincial schools had been tabled as annexes and placed in the Library. He stated that officers previously serving in ISA roles were given an opportunity to be absorbed into the new ISA Service, with those not assuming duties by 15 February 2025 to be reverted to the Teacher Service by provincial authorities. Approval has been sought from the Department of Management Services to Gazette new recruitment to the ISA Service, and he clarified that “Resource Person” is not a recognized post under the ISA Service Minute, so no direct appointments or confirmations can be made to such a position. Oral Question Q.1303/2025: Acting Teacher Advisers and Resource Persons in Eastern Province Education Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Nalin Hewage defended the Government’s economic record by citing the Central Bank report, arguing that GDP, per capita income, reserves, tourism, exports and employment indicators improved in 2024, while rejecting Opposition claims about debt growth and vehicle prices as false. He contrasted these figures with the records of previous UNP and SLPP-led administrations, alleging that past growth was accompanied by excessive debt, currency depreciation and weak fiscal outcomes. He also highlighted changes to political practices, including a smaller Cabinet, reduced benefits for MPs and limits on vehicle permits, and outlined disaster-relief payments provided after the 2024 floods and landslides. Adjournment Debate: Central Bank Annual Economic Review 2025 Corruption & Governance ReformEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Nalin Hewage moved that Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna take the Chair as the Presiding Member. Adjournment Debate: Central Bank Annual Economic Review 2025 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Nalin Hewage objected to the use of an insulting or improper name in Parliament and requested that it be withdrawn and expunged from the record. He argued that Members should not bring outside slurs into parliamentary proceedings and defended his right to respond to claims made by the Leader of the Opposition regarding the alleged distortion of the Dharmachakra and discussion of a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Nalin Hewage stated that planned education reforms for Grades 1 and 6 in 2026 were postponed by one year due to controversy and alleged misinformation raised by the Opposition, including claims about the Dharmachakra in the reforms. He said the Government and Ministry decided not to proceed in a sensitive area such as education while any concerns remained, and attributed responsibility for the delay and its impact on children to the Opposition and the Leader of the Opposition. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) EducationReligion & Culture Read →
20 May 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage said the Government has increased allocations for education-related physical resource development from 1.8% of GDP in the 2024 Budget to 1.9% in its first Budget and 2.04% in its second. He stated that additional funds have been provided to schools for facilities, that school consolidation is ongoing, and that several schools will be designated as specialized schools this year with earmarked development funding. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1-Q.7) Public FinanceEducation Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that a unit established to focus on the relevant group of children had become inactive and is now being considered for revival. He said the Ministry will strengthen the unit and restore its original mandate, particularly to identify and reintegrate those children. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Education Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Ministry recognized that past attention to the issue had declined, prompting new programmes and a special intervention. He stated that 1,217 of 1,344 schools in the Western Province had established the relevant committees, with follow-up continuing, and expressed confidence that the situation could be corrected through intensified monitoring. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Education Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Deputy Minister provided data on compulsory education implementation in the Western Province, stating that 1,217 of 1,344 government schools had established required school committees by December 2025 and that instructions had been issued to complete the remaining 127. He reported figures on out-of-school children identified, reintegrated, and re-admitted in 2024 and 2025, and outlined mechanisms under Circulars 33/2022, 37/2020, 28/2024, and 2025/01 for assessing and supporting learners with special educational needs. He also described measures including zonal assessment committees, early identification through health services, teacher training, assistive devices, special education units, and the planned role of the National Institute for Special and Inclusive Education, while noting that a precise number for one requested category could not be provided. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Education Read →
8 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Nalin Hewage supported the Motion on strengthening vocational education, arguing that Sri Lanka’s development depends heavily on improving human resources. He said the Government had allocated Rs. 8,000 million for vocational education facilities and recruitment, and was moving from a linear education pathway to multiple vocational and higher education options. He outlined a village-level outreach programme through 14,000 GN Division committees to identify youth suitable for vocational training, inform families about institutions, jobs, grants and loans, and ensure poverty does not prevent children from continuing education. He also referred to ongoing awareness, equipment upgrades, staffing measures and forthcoming improvements at the University of Vocational Technology. Debate: Private Members' Motion P.18/2024 - Formulating a Programme to Make School Students Aware of University of Vocational Technology EmploymentEducationCost of Living Read →
22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Nalin Hewage said the Government accepts the need to expand education and vocational training, noting that Gampaha Technical College has begun morning and evening sessions to increase intake and that similar expansion is planned under a programme up to 2029. He stated that a proposed site had been deemed unsuitable by the relevant institutions and rejected under the previous Government, based on a 2023 committee report appointed by the then Minister of Education. He urged that the matter not be used for local politics and asked that the committee report be shared with the local community. Oral Question: Buildings Housing NAITA District Office and Training Centres of Trincomalee - Lease (Q. 1555/2025) Education Read →
22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Nalin Hewage disputed the reported cost of a proposed University College of Technology project, stating that Rs. 434 million had been allocated and Rs. 11 million spent on construction. He said institutional assessments, including by UNIVOTEC, NIBM, DTET, NAITA and VTA, found the site unsuitable, while the Department of Wildlife Conservation identified it as an elephant corridor. He argued that the project had been politically driven without proper feasibility studies and had already been halted in 2023 under the previous administration, not by the current government. Oral Question: Buildings Housing NAITA District Office and Training Centres of Trincomalee - Lease (Q. 1555/2025) EducationPublic FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
25 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage argued that the Government has prioritised education in the 2026 Budget despite inheriting longstanding problems such as teacher shortages, inadequate facilities, and closed schools. He cited official figures to state that education allocations have risen from Rs. 534 billion in 2024 to Rs. 704 billion in 2026, and that education spending as a share of GDP is being increased gradually towards the stated 6% target. He rejected Opposition criticism by comparing past governments’ lower GDP allocations and underutilisation of capital funds, asserting that current policy is focused on improving human capital as a basis for economic development. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) EducationPublic Finance Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary Vocational education is planned to be introduced at school level from next year, requiring restructuring of the existing institutional system. The response notes problems of overlapping institutions in the same city and staff shortages, with approvals obtained for significant recruitment to deploy staff where needed. Changes to NAITA are also expected within the next year. Oral Question: Jaffna College of Technology Infrastructure (Q.3) Education Read →
24 November 2025 AI summary Rs. 2,000 million has been allocated in 2026 to upgrade 50 institutions islandwide. Funds are also intended to be allocated for upgrading the Vavuniya institution referred to by the Member. Oral Question: Jaffna College of Technology Infrastructure (Q.3) EducationPublic Finance Read →