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10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Wednesday, 4 June 2025

10th Parliament· 9 debates· 165 speeches· 48 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1750240054043973 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  5. 5 Oral question Oral Questions: NYSC Training Centres, Preschools, and Education Reforms 20 speeches
    • Mr. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna SJB

      AI summary Asked the scheduled parliamentary question.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, a request was made for two weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was ordered to stand down.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath asked the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports for details on National Youth Services Council training centres islandwide and specifically in Matara District, including the Akuressa and Athuraliya Divisional Secretary’s Divisions. He sought clarification on whether any such centre has a partially completed building with halted construction, the reasons for the stoppage, and whether there are plans to renovate and use it for the benefit of youth.

      Parliamentary ProcedureEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs responded on behalf of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to a parliamentary question regarding training centres. He stated that there are 59 training centres, with two, one, and one centres falling under the queried subcategories, and noted that the relevant party had been informed. Reasons and future plans were not fully set out in the provided excerpt.

      Employment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Hon. Lal Premanath raised a supplementary question about around 60 training centres in the Akurassa Divisional Secretariat Division, suggesting similar issues may exist nationally. He questioned their efficiency and benefit to youth, noting low attendance, lack of motivation or facilities, and unfinished projects from previous governments. He asked whether the new Government has a vision or plan to address the use and maintenance of these centres.

      EmploymentEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB

      AI summary There are 59 training centres under the National Youth Services Council, some of which were established in the past due to political considerations rather than scientific assessment. The Government is reviewing and reorganizing these centres to prioritize their usefulness to youth, prepare a forward plan, and develop them into genuine youth spaces across the country.

      EducationEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Lal Premanath JJB

      AI summary Asked whether the Government has a plan to rehabilitate and complete large partially built projects on prime lands, which had been halted amid economic difficulties. He specifically proposed that such buildings be completed and handed over for the benefit of youth.

      InfrastructurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB

      AI summary The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara stated that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, together with the State Ministers, plans to review and reactivate youth-related institutions, including National Youth Services Council and National Youth Corps centres. He noted that some centres have unfinished construction or are unsuitable and underused, and said the Ministry has identified locations and is preparing measures based on young people’s current needs and priorities.

      EducationEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara JJB

      AI summary Eranga Gunasekara stated that the Government is coordinating with interested institutions and several embassies to reorganize the centres in question. He said there is a concrete plan to transform them into facilities better suited for youth.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Sudarshana - Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB

      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.

      Women & ChildrenEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB

      AI summary Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody raised concerns about disparities in facilities and teaching practices among Sri Lanka’s 17,160 registered preschools, citing recent incidents and media reports as grounds to question the quality of early childhood education. He asked whether the Government has taken policy decisions to improve preschool physical facilities, arguing that higher-quality preschool education is important for children’s development and future citizenship.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Sudarshana - Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB

      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.

      Women & ChildrenEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody JJB

      AI summary Ruwanthilaka Jayakody asked whether the Government has considered measures to protect children’s right to education amid competition among preschools that has led to costly practices and financial burdens on parents. He noted that such costs can cause some parents to withdraw their children from preschool and sought clarification from the Deputy Minister on the issue.

      EducationCost of Living Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Sudarshana - Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB

      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.

      EducationWomen & Children Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna expressed support for the Prime Minister’s proposed education reforms and linked the issue to rising mental health concerns, depression, and suicides among students. She asked whether school-based counselling would be included in the reforms and, if so, how it would be implemented.

      HealthcareEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya said the education system is facing serious social well-being and mental health challenges, particularly among students affected by the Easter Sunday attacks, COVID-19 and the economic crisis. She stated that she and the State Minister would meet the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists to discuss comprehensive measures, stressing that low-quality counselling in schools could be harmful. She also highlighted the need for broader system reforms, including strengthening teachers’ skills and addressing the lack of change in teacher training colleges over 16 years.

      HealthcareEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna proposed appointing qualified counsellors to schools, based on student numbers, to identify pupils needing counselling or medical treatment. She sought clarification on education reforms, including the status of plans to upgrade teacher training colleges to universities, measures for Development Officers in schools, and whether changes to the examination system would abolish the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination and alter Grade 6 admissions.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB

      AI summary The Minister stated that there is no immediate plan to abolish the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, but said education reforms are intended to reduce its pressure and enable its gradual abolition, possibly by 2028 or 2029. She said action regarding Development Officers is subject to a pending court case, with Cabinet approval already obtained for the relevant policy decision. She also said the Government aims to upgrade teacher training colleges to university status and ensure teachers obtain degrees, but this will be done progressively while strengthening existing B.Ed. programmes and building necessary resources.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →