Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Colombo

Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

Profession: University Lecturer

Roster profile ↗

Speeches 536 #7 of 225·#3 in party

Attendance 4/8 days present (of recorded)

Speech history

536 speeches

24 July 2025 AI summary Cabinet approval has already been granted for the matter raised, and the Government is working with the Attorney-General’s Department to respond to related court proceedings. Harini Amarasuriya stated that no special request is therefore required and thanked the Leader of the Opposition for raising the issue. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Justice & Human Rights Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Recruitment of teachers has not been halted by a Cabinet decision; Cabinet has approved recruitment based on existing vacancies. However, three court cases have resulted in a stay on issuing teacher appointments, so recruitment cannot proceed until the legal process concludes. The Minister stated that the Government is also moving to fill many positions that had remained vacant for five years. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Justice & Human RightsEducation Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary In response to concerns about institutional support, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government expects to seek increased 2026 allocations for technical colleges and vocational training institutes. She indicated that the institutions referred to in the discussion would also benefit from those provisions. Oral Question: Education Zones for Uhana and Pottuvil (Q.8) Public FinanceEducation Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that no official recommendation had yet been received from the Governor regarding the matter raised. She said future reforms to education administration would take into account factors such as geography and the number of schools, and invited the Member to submit proposals for consideration. Oral Question: Education Zones for Uhana and Pottuvil (Q.8) Education Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary No recommendation has been received to establish separate education zones, and therefore no approval has been granted. In relation to proposed education reforms, priority is currently being given to curriculum reform under five reform pillars, while administrative reforms remain under discussion. Any decision to create new education zones or increase zonal offices in 2026 will be considered later based on factors such as the number of schools, students, teachers and geographic needs. Oral Question: Education Zones for Uhana and Pottuvil (Q.8) Education Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister presented several statutory and performance reports, including the 2023 Annual Report of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission and the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, and moved that they be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital. She also tabled reports on actions taken under Standing Order 119(4) regarding matters raised by the Committee on Public Accounts and moved their referral to that Committee. In addition, she presented 2024 performance reports for the Superior Court Judges’ Head and the Department of Civil Security for referral to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, and tabled a note on supplementary allocations under the 2025 Appropriation Act. Papers: Annual Reports and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 July 2025 AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya presented three annual reports relating to the Lady Lochore Loan Fund, the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board, and the Inland Revenue Department, and moved that they be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations. She also presented an Order under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2441/14, and moved that it be referred to the Committee on Public Finance; both motions were agreed to. Papers: Annual Reports and Performance Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
11 July 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister responded that a recent debate had already addressed the matter and that the 2021 PCoI Report has been available in Parliament since 2021. She said the Government cannot redo past investigations but is proceeding on the basis of newly emerged facts, with ongoing investigations to be reported to Parliament and the public when appropriate. Oral Questions - First Round Justice & Human Rights Read →
11 July 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister presented several annual and performance reports, including those of the Ranaviru Seva Authority, Sri Lanka Customs, Department of Census and Statistics, Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance, and Educational Publications Department, and moved that they be referred to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committees. She also presented a Gazette Order under the Tobacco Tax Act on the imposition of tobacco tax on beedi, referring it to the Committee on Public Finance. Responding to a question on the Easter Sunday attacks, she stated that one Presidential Commission had been appointed, its report was tabled in Parliament in 2021, and the Attorney-General is studying the material, with the Government undertaking to act on recommendations and keep the public informed. Tabling of Annual Reports - Ministers Security & DefenceJustice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the requested details were included in an annex tabled in the House. Oral Question: CIABOC Cases Against Politicians (Q.712/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that sixty-five matters have been concluded. Oral Question: CIABOC Cases Against Politicians (Q.712/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya responded to a question on CIABOC action relating to complaints from 2015–2019, stating that 157 cases were filed during 2020–2024 against politicians and public officials. She said 65 cases had been concluded, three cases had been withdrawn, and detailed lists of case outcomes and reasons for withdrawals had been tabled. Oral Question: CIABOC Cases Against Politicians (Q.712/2025) Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Requested two weeks’ time to provide a comprehensive reply to Hon. D.V. Chanaka’s question, stating that detailed information is required. Oral Questions to Prime Minister: Pension Disputes and FDI Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the anomaly affecting retirees during 2020–2024 has been addressed by the government. She added that where retirees continue to face difficulties, the Government is intervening, with the Minister of Public Administration holding and continuing discussions, including granting all requested meetings. Oral Questions to Prime Minister: Pension Disputes and FDI EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is addressing long-standing pension and salary anomalies through policy-based, system-wide measures rather than ad hoc adjustments. She said the 2025 public sector salary increase does not require recalculating past retirees’ pensions to match new salaries, arguing that pensions and retiree welfare must be handled under separate programmes. She added that the government has already acted on accumulated retiree-related issues and will continue to strengthen retiree support while avoiding new anomalies in the public service. Oral Questions to Prime Minister: Pension Disputes and FDI EmploymentPublic Finance Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Government’s 2025 Budget measures address longstanding pension disparities by aligning pensions of those who retired before 01.01.2020 to the 01.01.2020 salary level under the 2016 salary revision in three phases from 2025 to 2027. She said retirees from 2020 to 2024 already receive pensions based on the 01.01.2020 salary and therefore no specific disparity is currently recognized for that group, which totals 155,616 pensioners across civil, armed forces, and widows/widowers and orphans categories. She added that the 2025 public service salary increase applies only to officers in service on 01.01.2025 and retiring thereafter, but the Government is discussing possible general relief measures for pensioners in the 2026 Budget. Oral Questions to Prime Minister: Pension Disputes and FDI Public Finance Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya began answering a question by stating that the matter applied with effect from 1 January 2020, but the recorded extract is interrupted before any substantive details or response are provided. Procedural: Points of Order on Question Time Conduct Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Government would take up the proposal referred to in the debate. Oral Question: Digital Transformation and Education Reforms Parliamentary Procedure Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister said the skills development programme led by Deputy Minister Nalin Hevage would continue as part of education reforms aimed at preparing human capital for employment. She emphasized making vocational and skills education a respected chosen pathway rather than a fallback option, through school system changes and a wider social dialogue. She added that the President had discussed and endorsed the need to initiate this dialogue immediately. Oral Question: Digital Transformation and Education Reforms EducationEmployment Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that she had intended to respond after the day’s questions, but a related court case was pending. She said she was therefore unable to provide an answer at that time. Oral Question: Digital Transformation and Education Reforms Parliamentary Procedure Read →