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

Sitting of Wednesday, 4 March 2026

10th Parliament· 21 debates· 222 speeches· 65 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23360 ·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.

  6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Government Printing Department Vacancies and Qualifications 11 speeches
    • Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked the Prime Minister, under Standing Order 38(1), about the prolonged absence of a permanent Government Printer at the Government Printing Department. He questioned whether continued acting appointments comply with service procedures and raised concerns about risks to quality, confidentiality, security printing, and operational continuity. He sought details on any assessments or independent audits of these risks and asked what urgent steps the Government will take to restore technical capacity and appoint a qualified permanent Government Printer.

      Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary Under the Sri Lanka Printing Service Minute, no currently qualified departmental officer is available to serve as Government Printer, so a senior Special Grade Sri Lanka Administrative Service officer has been appointed on contract from 2 January 2025 with Cabinet approval to ensure continuity. The Prime Minister stated that security and confidential printing functions have not been reduced, and that quality, confidentiality and procedural integrity remain priorities. She added that a separate independent audit is not considered necessary beyond Auditor-General oversight, and that steps are being taken to make a full-time appointment.

      Public Finance Full speech →
    • Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised concern about vacancies and qualification gaps across the public service, citing the Government Press, Health sector, and Auditor-General’s Department. He asked whether this indicated systemic erosion and called for urgent modernization, seeking a clear response from the Prime Minister.

      Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformEmployment Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the decline in the public service is a long-standing issue caused by factors including improper recruitment practices, affecting multiple institutions. She indicated that the relevant subject Minister would provide details regarding the specific institution in question.

      Education Full speech →
    • Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake pressed for a clearer response to his question and urged immediate action to prevent larger problems arising. He emphasized the need to set out a forward-looking course rather than focusing on past issues.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary Over the past year and a half, the Prime Minister said the Government had begun orderly, merit-based recruitment processes to address the issue under discussion. She presented these recruitment measures as the relevant policy response within her education-related ministerial responsibilities.

      Public FinanceEducation Full speech →
    • Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB

      AI summary The Minister explained that the Government Printer appointment was made under the applicable Service Minute, which allows selection either from qualified senior Printing Service officers or from a Special Grade Sri Lanka Administrative Service officer. He said the current senior departmental officer is far short of the required progression period for substantive appointment and could only be appointed in an acting capacity with Public Service Commission concurrence. Accordingly, the Government appointed a qualified and experienced SLAS Special Grade officer to the post.

      Public FinanceParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake argued that Sri Lanka’s pool of specialized expertise is diminishing and called for stronger emphasis on technical competence in public life. He referred to his earlier proposal that minimum qualifications should be required even for politicians, and urged reforms to prioritize merit and experience in national decision-making.

      Corruption & Governance ReformEducation Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Government has begun programmes to improve professionalism and qualifications in the public service, including MoUs and training opportunities with India and Singapore for serving officers. She also said high-performing A/L students will be funded to study critical fields at leading international universities, with the expectation that they return to serve the country.

      Public FinanceEducation Full speech →
    • Hon. Ravi Karunanayake NDF

      AI summary Hon. Ravi Karunanayake noted that certain individuals or groups often do not return, though the brief statement provides no further context on who was being referred to or the issue under discussion.

      Employment Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB

      AI summary The Prime Minister stated that selected individuals would be appointed under agreements and bonds, with compliance mechanisms in place. She said the policy mirrors practices in other countries that identify top talent for specialized training, and is intended to address existing skills or capacity gaps.

      EmploymentEducation Full speech →