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 December 2025 AI summary Moved approval of a Presidential Proclamation under the Public Security Ordinance bringing Part II into operation islandwide from 28 November 2025, which the House agreed to. She also moved approval of the Presidential Proclamation under the Essential Public Services Act, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2464/29 of 28 November 2025 and presented on 3 December 2025, which was likewise agreed to. Procedural - Bills and Resolutions: Second Reading and Approvals Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister stated that actions required under paragraphs 897(xiii) and 897(xiv) of the relevant Supreme Court judgment had been reported to Court on 25 September 2025. She said directions had been issued to agencies responsible for marine environmental protection and coastal conservation, and outlined measures by the Ministry of Environment, including proposed amendments to the Marine Pollution Prevention Act, revision of the national contingency plan to cover chemical spills, creation of a digital dashboard and 24-hour MEPA operations room, and work on policies for distressed vessels and transboundary marine plastic pollution. Ministerial Statements - X-Press Pearl Vessel Liability Case Justice & Human RightsEnvironment Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the answers to parts 1 to 4 of the question raised by Hon. Ajith P. Perera would be presented by the Minister of Justice. Ministerial Statements - X-Press Pearl Vessel Liability Case Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the Ministry and UGC are preparing guidelines and minimum standards to support the disability-admissions policy, including accessibility requirements for new buildings. She said directions have been issued to ensure future actions comply with the policy and that comprehensive guidelines will be finalized within the next year. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) EducationJustice & Human Rights Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government would establish support units for students with disabilities in universities in a phased manner. She said universities must be equipped not only to admit such students but also to provide ongoing support, including necessary equipment and devices funded through allocated resources. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) Justice & Human RightsEducation Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister provided details on university students with disabilities, noting UGC categories for visually impaired students and students with physical disabilities, recent admission numbers, and the absence of a dedicated disability enrolment mechanism at the Buddhist and Pali University. She explained the UGC’s special admission channel, including stream placements, severity-based assessment for physical disabilities, and Arts placements for Braille candidates, while noting there is no separate quota beyond this scheme. She stated that inclusive support measures are handled by individual universities and that the UGC plans to expand access to additional degree programmes from the 2024 A/L intake and to all first degree programmes from the 2025 A/L intake, subject to relevant approvals. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) Education Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Recruitment will include an interview after the examination as a second stage. School-based experience, including service by Development Officers functioning as teachers, will be credited, and candidates will make a presentation on the role and functioning of a teacher in a school. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) EmploymentEducation Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Direct absorption into the teachers’ service is not available due to Public Service Commission guidelines and Supreme Court judgments. Litigation-related constraints have been addressed through the Cabinet process, and recruitment will proceed by competitive examination under the Teachers’ Service Minute and PSC recommendations, with the age limit extended to 45 as permitted by the Supreme Court. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) EmploymentJustice & Human Rights Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya provided figures on Development Officers attached to National and Provincial Council schools, stating that 2,939 were assigned to National Schools and 20,102 to Provincial Council schools, with about 1,992 currently serving in National Schools after transfers and releases. She said Development Officers may enter the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service in accordance with judicial orders and the Teachers’ Service Minute. She explained that recruitment examinations had been delayed due to Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings, but following Cabinet approval and the conclusion of the Court of Appeal matter on 20 November 2025, recruitment to Grade 3-I (a) with revised age limits and separate examinations would proceed. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) Public FinanceEducation Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya expressed condolences to those affected by the recent national disaster and assured that the Government would provide assistance to rebuild lives, homes, businesses and property. She thanked public officials, security forces, emergency responders, health workers, local authorities, community groups, clergy, media, foreign governments, international agencies and the Sri Lankan diaspora for rescue, relief and recovery support. She paid particular tribute to members of the Air Force and Navy who died or went missing during rescue operations, and emphasized continued coordination to restore essential services and support affected communities. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Security & DefenceLaw & Order Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya responded that concerns raised about the history curriculum would be conveyed to the relevant course team and considered by education experts responsible for curriculum development and module review. She stated that history is presented as Sri Lankan history encompassing all communities, rather than as separate Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim histories. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum EducationEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that works by Tamil artists are included in modern art studies as part of a broad Sri Lankan artistic tradition, without ethnic or religious categorisation. She said Tamil visual arts scholars have been involved in curriculum and teacher guide preparation since 2015, and that the new education reform review panels also include Tamil-medium experts to revise visual arts materials. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionEducation Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister answered a Standing Order 27(2) question by Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan, stating that Tamil rulers and polities, including the Jaffna Kingdom, the Vanniyars and Sankili rulers, are included in the current and reformed History curriculum as part of Sri Lankan history rather than as a separate ethnic history. She outlined National Museums holdings and publications relating to Tamil history, including inscriptions, Hindu religious artefacts, Setu coins, palm-leaf manuscripts and scholarly works. She also stated that the reformed Art curriculum includes South Indian and wider Indian artistic traditions and their influence on Sri Lankan art, including Hindu iconography and sites such as the Polonnaruwa Siva Devalaya. Oral Question by Private Notice: History of Tamil Kings in School Curriculum Religion & CultureEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionEducation Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Ministry of Education does not currently regulate private education institutions, and that policy formulation on such regulation has been referred to the National Education Commission. She indicated that further measures could be taken once the policy is formulated, and that the remaining part of the question was not applicable. Oral Questions: Multiple Questions Nos. 3, 4, 5 and Private Notice Question (Q.27/2) Education Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya briefly affirmed that the requested action or commitment would be carried out. No further policy details, proposals, or questions were included in the statement. Oral Question: O/L Applicants of Sarawanabawa Vidyalaya, Eluvaitivu Island (Q.1/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government would look into providing improved transport support for students who need to travel to Kayts. Oral Question: O/L Applicants of Sarawanabawa Vidyalaya, Eluvaitivu Island (Q.1/2025) EducationInfrastructure Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary There are two government schools on Eluvaitivu Island, including Sarawanabawa College, which has existed since 1999 but has not been designated as a GCE (Ordinary Level) examination centre. Students sit the examination at St. Anthony’s College, Kayts, because candidate numbers from the school are low and have declined to five in 2024, so they are assigned to the nearest centre. Oral Question: O/L Applicants of Sarawanabawa Vidyalaya, Eluvaitivu Island (Q.1/2025) Education Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary Regulations under the Value Added Tax Act concerning management of the VAT Refund Fund, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2460/44, were presented and referred to the Committee on Public Finance with the agreement of the House. A Presidential Proclamation under the Essential Public Services Act and a note on supplementary allocations under the 2025 Appropriation Act for October 2025 were also presented and ordered to lie upon the Table. Papers: Regulations and Reports Presented Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →
26 November 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister presented the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill, which seeks to establish the Sri Lanka Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority, regulate moneylending and microfinance businesses, protect customers, and repeal the Microfinance Act, No. 6 of 2016. The Bill was ordered to be printed, referred to the Committee on Public Finance, and scheduled for Second Reading on 10 December 2025. Papers Presented: Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill Public Finance Read →
26 November 2025 AI summary The Prime Minister thanked the Leader of the Opposition for his proposals and said they would be referred to the relevant authorities, with government intervention where possible. She stated that more than 12,000 graduates had already been recruited and that, following formal notification from the Court of Appeal ending litigation on teacher appointments, the recruitment process would begin immediately to meet the stated targets. Ministerial Statement: Minimization of Unemployment EmploymentEducation Read →