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

5 February 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister attributed the coconut crisis to past fertilizer policy decisions, noting that coconut yields are affected by a 39–44 month biological lag. She said the Government is acting to ensure timely fertilizer availability, plans to support coconut cultivation through the upcoming Budget, and will separately manage short-term consumer supply concerns while longer-term production measures take effect. Oral Question: Coconut Production Decline (Q.290/2024) Public FinanceAgriculture Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary A new Chairman has been appointed to the Fragmentation Board, and the Government intends to improve its functioning through stronger coordination. The Prime Minister attributed problems in the coconut sector to fragmented agencies, weak planning, inadequate replanting, and fertilizer gaps, and said institutions are being aligned under common short-, medium-, and long-term plans to address these issues. Oral Question: Coconut Production Decline (Q.290/2024) Agriculture Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister, responding to a question on declining coconut yields, cited climatic extremes, prolonged fertilizer non-use, pests and diseases, wild animal damage, high input and energy costs, labour shortages, price volatility, ageing and neglected plantations, land fragmentation, and conversion of coconut land. She identified the responsible institutions under the Ministry of Plantation and Rural Infrastructure and outlined ongoing measures including research, planting programmes, grower training, pest control inputs, credit and grants, awareness campaigns, and commercial cultivation by plantation companies. She said the Government’s short-, medium-, and long-term responses include fertilizer supply, pest and disease control, home-garden promotion, rehabilitation and replanting, Budget support, expansion into non-traditional areas including a Northern coconut triangle, mitigation of animal damage, and a UNIDO-supported roadmap targeting 4,200 million nuts and USD 1,500 million in export earnings by 2030. Oral Question: Coconut Production Decline (Q.290/2024) Agriculture Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that certain grants did not fall within the approved sectors or the relevant legal framework, including the category for persons who had rendered service to the nation. She said the list tabled by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa indicated the grants were made at the President’s discretion outside proper procedure, and that further information would be gathered and disclosed to the public. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) Corruption & Governance ReformPublic Finance Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the President’s Fund is legally intended to assist low-income households and alleged that it had previously been misused through favouritism, with investigations underway. She said the current Government would restrict disbursements to legally defined sectors and improve access and transparency by decentralizing and digitizing applications through Divisional Secretariats. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister, responding to Hon. T.K. Jayasundara, outlined the sectors supported by the President’s Fund under Act No. 7 of 1978, including poverty alleviation, education, religion, national service grants, and public welfare, with assistance such as medical aid, scholarships, and self-employment support. She provided annual beneficiary and expenditure figures for 2015–2024, noting the Fund’s main income sources are dividends and interest from the Development Lotteries Board. She stated that the Government plans to simplify access by enabling applications and payments through all 341 Divisional Secretariats, supported by officer training and a new online IT system for verification and approval. Oral Question: President's Fund Distribution (Q.288/2024) EducationCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
5 February 2025 AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said she would check the matter raised and provide a response. She also indicated that she would address the broader impact of the issue at a later stage. Papers: Tabling of Reports and Orders Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Moved parliamentary approval for regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2413/37 of 4 December 2024, with Cabinet approval signified. Also presented for approval a notification under the Strategic Development Projects Act, additional import and export regulations, and an order under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act listed on the Order Paper. Debate: Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act and Related Economic Measures Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Harini Amarasuriya stated that ministers and MPs are using non-luxury, fuel-efficient official vehicles sourced from ministries where available, while some continue to use personal vehicles. She said fuel expenditure has been reduced from a monthly average of Rs. 3.24 million up to November 2024 to under Rs. 1 million, and that Rs. 37 million was saved by not using two bulletproof vehicles at the Prime Minister’s Office. She rejected concerns over vehicle use as unfounded and requested Hon. Chamara Sampath to submit the relevant document for examination. Oral Question: Vehicle Assignments to Government Members Public Finance Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya rejected the need for advice on her party’s discipline. She asked that the relevant details be sent to her, stating that the matter would be inquired into. Oral Question: Vehicle Assignments to Government Members Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the matter raised would be looked into, indicating a commitment to examine it further. Oral Question: Vehicle Assignments to Government Members Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Hon. Harini Amarasuriya asked the Member to provide the relevant details and stated that an inquiry would be made. Oral Question: Vehicle Assignments to Government Members Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary No vehicles have been assigned to Government Members of the Tenth Parliament, except a car provided by the Presidential Secretariat to Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva due to his visual impairment and role as the first MP with a disability. The response states that no driver or fuel is provided by the Presidential Secretariat, maintenance will follow government procurement procedures, and no expenditure had been incurred up to 17 January 2025. Oral Question: Vehicle Assignments to Government Members Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary Due to litigation concerning issues with the Scholarship Examination, the court ordered a suspension of marking, delaying the release of results. The case concluded about two weeks earlier, allowing marking to resume, and results are expected to be released soon. Oral Question: Educational Reforms and Student Welfare Programmes Education Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary A student welfare programme includes distributing shoes, with beneficiaries selected using school size as the current criterion. Shoes are to be provided to all students in schools with fewer than 250 students, covering an estimated 700,000 children this year. Oral Question: Educational Reforms and Student Welfare Programmes Education Read →
23 January 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister outlined planned education reforms to be implemented by 2026, incorporating feasible elements of previous proposals while revising curricula, subject clusters, and assessment methods to make learning less exam-centric. She stated that Aesthetics, IT, and Accounting will remain in the curriculum with updated content, and highlighted priorities including teacher training, school infrastructure, reduction of disparities, and school-based grants for national and provincial schools. She also said higher education expansion in 2025 will focus on addressing university infrastructure, staffing, programme quality, student welfare, and increased opportunities in technology and vocational education. Oral Question: Educational Reforms and Student Welfare Programmes Education Read →
22 January 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister presented the 2023 Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Institute of Policy Studies and proposed that it be referred to the Consultative Committee on the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The proposal was put to the House and agreed to. Papers: Annual Reports Tabled (Sri Lanka Institute of Policy Studies, Ministry of Health, Department of Coast Conservation) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government is committed to restoring the rule of law and ending past practices of arbitrary use of power, abductions, and killings, citing cases such as Eknaligoda, Richard de Zoysa, Lasantha Wickrematunge, and the Trincomalee student killings. Responding to Hon. Mano Ganesan, she described “Clean Sri Lanka” as the political change of ending impunity and ensuring Ministers and MPs act within the law and Constitution. She urged Members who claim to support change and the country’s welfare to demonstrate it through their conduct in Parliament. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary The member rejected a proposal made in the debate to emulate extrajudicial measures associated with the Philippines in addressing drug crimes, such as taking people to sea and killing them. She stated that the Government has no intention or justification to act unlawfully in implementing the Clean Sri Lanka programme. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Law & Order Read →
21 January 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya made a procedural request to the Chair, asking that the time taken for the interruption or exchange not be deducted from her allotted speaking time. Adjournment Debate: Clean Sri Lanka Programme Parliamentary Procedure Read →