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

10 March 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education presented the 2023 Annual Report and Accounts of the Bhikku University of Sri Lanka. She moved that the document be referred to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, and the House agreed. Papers Presented and Ministerial Consultative Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya briefly indicated that she would conclude her remarks quickly. No substantive policy position, proposal, or question was raised in the excerpt provided. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya linked International Women’s Day to the 2024 Polduwa Junction water cannon incident and the ongoing legal case, saying women’s rights must be understood through intersectionality, including class, religion, ethnicity, language and caste. She argued that Sri Lankan women’s advances were strongly supported by free education and free health, and that free education had been preserved through public and student struggles. As Prime Minister and Education Minister, she said education reforms would address gender relations and identities, boys’ declining educational participation and outcomes, and the need to build respectful, inclusive citizens. She also stated that gender budgeting and mainstreaming must be accompanied by structural and social change, not only laws or written policies. Appropriation Bill, 2025 - Committee Stage: Ministry of Women and Child Affairs EducationWomen & ChildrenJustice & Human Rights Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister stated that she had been informed of the incident that day and would instruct the Ministry to conduct an inquiry. She said both legal and disciplinary action would be pursued where appropriate, and undertook to provide any further information on the investigation to Parliament within the day. Statement on International Women's Day Education Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Marking International Women’s Day, the Prime Minister paid tribute to women’s struggles in Sri Lanka and noted the increased presence and voice of women in politics, including the 22 women MPs from the National People’s Power. She highlighted Sri Lanka’s low ranking in the Global Gender Gap Report, the limited representation of women in Parliament, and the gap between women’s high educational attainment and low labour force participation. She argued that unpaid care work must be treated as a social and national policy issue, calling for stronger social protection and services such as day-care, elder-care, public transport, health and education to support women’s participation and equality. Statement on International Women's Day Public FinanceEmploymentWomen & Children Read →
8 March 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya presented the 2023 Annual Report and Accounts of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. She moved that the report be referred to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented Parliamentary ProcedureEducation Read →
7 March 2025 AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya commended the Ministry of Transport and Sri Lanka Railways for establishing improved restroom facilities for women at Colombo Fort Railway Station, framing it as a practical measure to support safer and more dignified public transport use. She argued that inadequate, unsafe, and inaccessible transport limits women’s labour force participation, children’s education, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups. She urged the Ministry to consider transport and road access in relation to schools, teacher deployment, and broader social participation, emphasizing that mobility should enable all citizens to access work, education, culture, and public life. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2025 - Committee Stage (Heads 117, 123, 306, 307, 309-311, 332, 336) InfrastructureEmploymentWomen & Children Read →
6 March 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister presented the 2023 Annual Report of the Ocean University of Sri Lanka and moved that it be referred to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, which was agreed to. She also presented two regulations under the Special Commodity Levy Act, published in Gazette Nos. 2417/20 and 2421/03, and moved that they be referred to the Committee on Public Finance, which was also agreed to. Tabling of Annual Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister, in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, presented the 2023 Annual Report and Accounts of the University of Kelaniya. She moved that the report be referred to the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, and the motion was agreed to. Papers Presented: Annual Reports and Committee Reports Parliamentary ProcedureEducation Read →
1 March 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister stated that her earlier answer regarding the Rajarata University Vice Chancellor selection was based on official records and was not false. She outlined that both the previous and current UGC identified discrepancies and complaints in the evaluation process, leading the UGC to decline recommending any candidate and the President’s Secretary to request that the process be restarted under Section 34(1)(a) of the Universities Act. She tabled relevant correspondence and minutes, and said the Government would provide Parliament with information based on procedure and facts. Privilege Matter: Vice-Chancellor Appointment - Rajarata University Parliamentary ProcedureEducation Read →
28 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Harini Amarasuriya presented district-wise data on teacher vacancies as at 31 January 2025, stating that provincial schools had 2,652 vacancies by medium and national schools had 40,621 vacancies. She also explained the status of recruitment to the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service for Dhamma Acharyas under Gazette Notification No. 2087 of 2018, noting that the process was delayed by COVID-19 and Treasury restrictions on recruitment. She stated that appointments for religious subjects had continued through National Diploma in Teaching graduates from 2019 to 2023, and that the Ministry had sought instructions from the Public Service Commission on how to proceed with the 2019 competitive examination results given the limited remaining vacancies. Ministerial Statement - School Teacher Recruitment and Dhamma School Allowances EmploymentEducation Read →
28 February 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question on teacher recruitment, stating that recruitment is governed by the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service Minute in Gazette Extraordinary No. 1885/38 of 23 October 2014. She said the minimum qualification for recruitment to Grade III is passing at least three G.C.E. Advanced Level subjects at one sitting, excluding the General Test. She also reported 43,273 teacher vacancies, comprising 2,652 in National Schools and 40,621 in Provincial Schools, with district details provided in annexes. Ministerial Statement - School Teacher Recruitment and Dhamma School Allowances EducationEmployment Read →
27 February 2025 AI summary Moved the Adjournment Motion, proposing that Parliament be adjourned. Adjournment: Motion on Prevention of Relocation of Norwood Divisional Secretariat to Hatton Parliamentary Procedure Read →
27 February 2025 AI summary At the Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, an amendment was moved to Head 1, Programme 02. The intervention was procedural and did not include further explanation of the proposed amendment. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
27 February 2025 AI summary At the Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill 2025, an amendment was moved on behalf of the Minister of Finance to revise capital expenditure under Special Spending Units, Heads 1-25. The amendment replaces the relevant allocation with Rs. 9,487,000,000, increasing the capital provision for Head 1 by Rs. 6,000,000,000 to include allocations under Budget Proposals Nos. 07 and 19. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Read →
27 February 2025 AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said the Committee Stage debate on the 2025 Appropriation Bill covers key Special Expenditure Heads and marks the beginning of implementing the Government’s policy programme, including a participatory constitutional reform process. She argued that the Government’s proposed “new political culture” requires reducing the financial burden of political offices on citizens, managing public funds prudently, and treating official privileges as tied to office rather than personal entitlement. Citing past expenditure on presidential foreign travel, she said necessary official travel had previously been abused and used the figures to justify stricter oversight of perquisites and expenditure. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Public FinanceParliamentary ProcedureCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
27 February 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya moved a procedural motion to postpone consideration of Clauses 2 to 12 until after Schedules 1, 2 and 3 are considered. Debate: Committee Stage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill - Special Expenditure Heads (Heads 1-25) and Amendments Parliamentary Procedure Read →
27 February 2025 AI summary Under the Universities Act, Vice Chancellor appointments are made by the President following University Grants Commission recommendations based on names proposed by University Councils, with no ministerial intervention. For Rajarata, South Eastern and Eastern universities, the UGC rejected earlier proposals due to deficiencies in the marking scheme, notified the universities and the President, and decided to readvertise and restart the process, allowing previous applicants to reapply. The reconstitution of university Councils during this period was described as unrelated to the Vice Chancellor appointments. Regarding the University of Ruhuna, the Minister said the situation was different because the university had become ungovernable amid strikes and access issues, and a Competent Authority was appointed under legal powers while a court case remains pending. Oral Question: Grade 5 Scholarship Exam 2024 - Leak of Questions (Q.105/2024) Education Read →
27 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya briefly clarified that the matter under discussion did not occur during Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presidency. Oral Question: Grade 5 Scholarship Exam 2024 - Leak of Questions (Q.105/2024) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
27 February 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya briefly directed a Member to proceed with asking their question. No substantive policy position or proposal was presented in this intervention. Oral Question: Grade 5 Scholarship Exam 2024 - Leak of Questions (Q.105/2024) Parliamentary Procedure Read →