Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Kurunegala

Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs

Profession: Medical Practitioner

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 24 #156 of 225·#94 in party

Attendance 5/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

24 speeches

19 May 2026 AI summary Dr. Namal Sudarshana stated that Sri Lanka had not previously had a standalone national policy on preschool education, despite the 2008 National Policy on Early Childhood Development. He said a National Preschool Policy is now in its final stage, developed by the Ministries of Education and Women and Child Affairs with the National Institute of Education, prioritizing equitable access for all children regardless of socio-economic status or disability. He also noted that a Five-Year Action Plan for 2026–2030 on Early Childhood Development has been prepared with the involvement of the Ministries of Women and Child Affairs, Education, and Health. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Women & ChildrenEducation Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary Under the Government’s digitalization initiative, data systems are being developed across ministries, including the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. Allocations were provided last year and this year, and the system is being implemented with the Ministry of Digital Economy, with completion expected by the end of the year. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Women & Children Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Ministry currently lacks data on children with disabilities aged 3–5, but is developing a mechanism and will collect relevant information through the forthcoming preschool census. He outlined measures to support inclusive preschool education, including national ECD standards on accessible facilities, inclusive spaces and appropriate learning assessments, as well as increased enrolment through the Morning Meal Programme. He noted that preschool admissions are handled by provincial authorities under devolved functions, and said teacher training includes 50 hours on children with disabilities, with further 2026 plans for capacity-building and an autism awareness handbook. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions Women & ChildrenEducation Read →
19 March 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister acknowledged receipt of two petitions submitted by E.M.A.R. Sarath Ekanayake of Panliyadda, Akkara 100 Watta, and Mrs. J.A. Bhadhra of Ibbagamuwa, Kongahagedara. Papers and Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana said the Government is reviewing the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, No. 34 of 2005, and the National Child Protection Authority Act, No. 50 of 1998, to update them in light of social and technological changes and strengthen protections for women and children. He noted that steps are being taken to establish the Women’s Commission under the Women’s Commission Act, No. 37 of 2024, including providing premises, staff, and budgetary support, with a mandate that includes formulating a National Women’s Policy. He also marked the forthcoming International Women’s Day by acknowledging women’s contributions to rights advocacy and the role of women Members of Parliament. Adjournment: National Care Policy and International Women's Day Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
5 March 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Sudarshana supported the Motion calling for a National Care Policy, linking it to International Women’s Day and the Government’s policy commitments on reducing women’s unpaid care burden. He said the Ministry has included this objective in the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, is finalizing an Action Plan, and will seek Cabinet approval, establish a Steering Committee, sign relevant MoUs, and submit the draft to the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus. He also noted joint work with the Labour Ministry and the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Protection and Community Empowerment to develop a National Social Protection Strategy and strengthen childcare, eldercare, and other care services while assessing the economic value of unpaid care work. Adjournment: National Care Policy and International Women's Day Women & ChildrenEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
8 January 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Sudarshana supported the Adjournment Motion on child protection, noting that despite existing ministry officers at divisional level, gaps remain in providing safe environments for children, particularly after school hours in urban, plantation, and other high-risk areas. He proposed developing local authority pre-schools and day-care centres into safe centres with provincial and local government coordination, and exploring after-school protection programmes within schools in collaboration with the Education Ministry. He endorsed a pilot project for protective centres in the Dehiwala Divisional Secretariat area due to drug-related risks and cramped housing, with a view to evaluating and scaling the programme to other districts, including the North and East. Adjournment Motion: Child Safety in Urban Housing Complexes Law & OrderEducationWomen & Children Read →
19 December 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Supplementary Estimate for disaster relief and restoration, describing widespread impacts across multiple districts, including flooding and landslide risks in Kurunegala and continued displacement in safe centres. He said the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is focusing on affected women and children, including damaged Early Childhood Development centres, and is coordinating with other ministries and international organizations on relief and restoration. He announced plans for a medium-term national psychosocial support programme, with training for counsellors and field officers beginning on 22 and 24 December, to address trauma among children and women. He also responded to concerns about the Gommunaawa landslide, stating that quarrying permits and related decisions dated back to 2015–2016. Debate: Supplementary Estimate – Head 240 – Programme 02 – Cyclone Disaster Relief (Rs. 500 Billion) Women & ChildrenPublic FinanceHealthcare Read →
19 November 2025 AI summary Dr. Namal Sudarshana stated that a complaint should be lodged regarding the incident so that legal action can proceed. He added that the Government is expediting the establishment of the National Commission on Women, which will have quasi-judicial powers including the ability to institute cases, and that the delayed preparatory work is now being completed. Oral Question: Incidents of Domestic Violence Against Women from 2015 (Q.1/2025) Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
19 November 2025 AI summary Complaints received by the National Committee on Women are referred to the Legal Aid Commission and the Police, while counselling services provide mediation and support. Legal action is handled by the Police, with the Committee’s role limited to directing complaints to the appropriate institutions. Oral Question: Incidents of Domestic Violence Against Women from 2015 (Q.1/2025) Justice & Human RightsWomen & Children Read →
19 November 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister provided statistics on domestic violence complaints against women received by the 1938 Women’s Help Line and Sri Lanka Police from 2015 to September 2025, noting annual totals ranging from about 123,000 to 145,000 complaints. He outlined Ministry and Police measures including referrals for legal aid and police action under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, awareness and training programmes, counselling and village-level outreach, and the Police 109 emergency response mechanism. He said legal action would be expedited through proposed amendments to the 2005 Act, improved procedures at Women and Children’s Desks, swift prosecution of serious offences, operationalizing the National Commission on Women under the Women’s Empowerment Act, and developing an integrated complaints-tracking system. Oral Question: Incidents of Domestic Violence Against Women from 2015 (Q.1/2025) Justice & Human RightsWomen & ChildrenLaw & Order Read →
14 November 2025 AI summary He cited a Gunadasa Kapuge song to argue against divisions based on ethnicity, religion, and region. He said the Budget should treat all communities across the North, South, and East equally as citizens of one country. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionPublic Finance Read →
14 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Sudarshana supported the Budget, stating that economic stabilization had enabled programmes such as Clean Sri Lanka and digitalization to target rural development and poverty reduction. He rejected claims that preschool education was neglected, citing increased teacher and meal allowances and a new National Policy on Preschool Education to standardize curricula, teacher qualifications, governance, and regulation across provinces. He also outlined support for institutionalized children, including monthly assistance, improvements to care institutions, and a Rs. 2,000 million allocation to provide up to Rs. 2 million each for eligible youth leaving care to obtain land or housing. Debate: Second Reading of Appropriation Bill 2026 – Sixth Allotted Day EducationPublic FinanceWomen & Children Read →
21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana moved that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair. The motion was seconded, agreed to, and the change of Chair was effected. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
24 September 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Sudarshana supported the Penal Code amendment as a timely measure to strengthen child protection, linking it to Sri Lanka’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 2024 Bogota commitment to end corporal punishment. He outlined Ministry initiatives including a multi-sectoral mechanism to prevent child abuse, regulatory updates, livelihood support for vulnerable children, transport for child victims attending court, and increased preschool meal funding. He noted that concerns extend beyond schools to homes and institutions, including religious organizations, and referenced past legal measures and NCPA recommendations aimed at abolishing corporal punishment and addressing violence against children. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Women & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
11 July 2025 AI summary A petition from Mrs. Chandrakanthi Weerasinghe of Kumbukwewa, Karuwalagaswewa Road, Mailamada, Tihachchi, was presented to Parliament by the Deputy Minister. Presentation of Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
18 June 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana presented a petition to Parliament on behalf of Mr. E.P. Chandraseena of Pitapahamuna, Giriyaala, Lenawa. No further details of the petition were stated. Petitions: Five Petitions Accepted Parliamentary Procedure Read →
4 June 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Government treats education as a right and outlined existing divisional-level mechanisms involving ECD Officers, Child Rights Promotion Officers and public health officials to address issues such as non-attendance and irregular attendance among children. He noted that Child Development Committees are not meeting regularly in some areas and said steps are being taken to systematize the process, including possible intervention through Divisional Coordinating Committees. He also said the Ministry expects to introduce a regulatory mechanism for fees charged by preschools. Oral Questions: NYSC Training Centres, Preschools, and Education Reforms Women & ChildrenEducation Read →
4 June 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister acknowledged disparities among preschool and early childhood development centres, noting that most are privately run and that 17,152 are registered, with some unregistered centres also operating. He said the Ministry is working on regulation by registering and later regulating diploma-granting institutions that train preschool teachers, supported by ECD Officers and Provincial Council officials. He also referred to plans for a national subject framework and guidelines, measures to improve teacher competency, a morning meal nutrition programme, and work on teacher honoraria, while stating that the Government currently lacks capacity to equalize physical resources across all preschools. Oral Questions: NYSC Training Centres, Preschools, and Education Reforms Women & ChildrenEducation Read →
4 June 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, the Deputy Minister provided figures on preschools and teachers as at 31 March 2024, stating that there were 17,152 preschools and 30,536 teachers in service, of whom 23,371 had diplomas and 7,165 did not. He outlined the required qualifications for preschool wardens and said a subject framework and guidelines are being prepared with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and the National Institute of Education for approval by the National Committee. He explained that preschool education forms part of Early Childhood Development for ages 0–5, with responsibilities divided among the Women and Child Affairs, Education, Health, and Provincial Preschool authorities under existing policy and the 13th Amendment. Oral Questions: NYSC Training Centres, Preschools, and Education Reforms Women & ChildrenEducation Read →