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

Sitting of Friday, 20 June 2025

10th Parliament· 18 debates· 194 speeches· 60 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1751600792021434 ·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.

  9. 9 Oral question Oral Question: Acting Principals in Government Schools (Q.Unspecified/2024) 20 speeches
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education for details on the number of acting principals currently serving in government schools. He sought clarification on measures taken for them, whether the present Government is continuing promotion measures initiated by the previous Government, and whether acting principals will receive permanent appointments.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB

      AI summary As a response on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, it was stated that 2,994 teachers were serving as acting or covering principals as of 30 April 2024, without having been recruited to the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service. A Cabinet memorandum seeking approval to appoint them to Class III on a supra-grade basis was not approved, and the Public Service Commission also declined concurrence under Article 55(3) of the Constitution. The response stated that vacancies in the Principals’ Service must be filled through recruitment and that supra-grade appointments are therefore not possible.

      EducationPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake said acting principals have sustained small, rural, estate-sector and border village schools for 15–20 years, despite repeated recruitment of graded principals who tend to move to urban schools. He questioned the Government on whether these acting principals would be absorbed or removed, noting that previous proposals to place them in Class III had not received Cabinet or Department of Management Services approval. He urged that they be granted Class III status at minimum, especially as their court case had been withdrawn by consent.

      EmploymentEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake stated that a Cabinet Paper and the related Management Services approval concerning acting principals had been rejected. He argued that if that position is being maintained, the acting principals should be removed accordingly.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake urged that the relevant group be placed at least in Class III, stating that this would meet their expectations.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake stated that the issue concerning acting principals is significant and cannot be briefly addressed. He emphasized the seriousness of the problem, indicating the need for more detailed consideration.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake briefly addressed the Deputy Minister, noting the latter’s experience on the matter as the reason for raising it with him in detail. No specific proposal, demand, or policy issue was stated in the excerpt.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna acknowledged the contribution of teachers who acted as principals during vacancies, particularly in difficult schools, and said discussions with their representatives and officials are ongoing. He stated that future principal appointments must comply with service statutes and be made under the Education Administrative Service and Principals’ Service criteria. He noted there are about 4,000 vacancies, recruitment had been delayed by litigation but can now proceed following Attorney-General’s advice, and the Government may consider rule-compliant compassionate recognition, possibly including a financial component, for those who served.

      Public FinanceEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake urged the Government to address the situation of 2,900 acting principals when filling around 4,000 principal vacancies, noting that the matter had also arisen at COPA with Treasury officials. He proposed awarding special marks or recognition to acting principals, arguing that recruitment limited to the Education Administrative Service would disadvantage those already serving in difficult, remote schools. He said such measures were needed to ensure fairness for schools in peripheral and border areas where administrative recruits may be reluctant to serve.

      Justice & Human RightsEducationPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna said acting principals serving in difficult schools, including in Monaragala’s Siyambalanduwa and Etimale areas, have not received justice despite earlier appeals and parliamentary attention. He noted that, as former Chief Minister of Uva, he had granted them an allowance and urged that the issue be treated sensitively.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake referred to Kandana Sirisivali Maha Vidyalaya in the Badulla area as an example of a school with an acting principal and urged that justice be ensured for such acting principals. He stated that he was raising the issue on their behalf, and alluded to concerns about a relevant Cabinet Paper being rejected and Treasury resistance.

      Education Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB

      AI summary Bimal Rathnayake briefly remarks that a Member is reportedly serving as an acting principal, prompting laughter in the House. No substantive policy issue or proposal is raised.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB

      AI summary Dr. Madhura Senevirathna said that when principal vacancies arise, teachers may act in those roles, but appointments must comply with service rules. He stated that future placements will be made according to the criteria of the Education Administrative Service and the Principals’ Service, which should prevent the concerns raised from recurring.

      Education Full speech →