The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi
Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi questioned the use of Aswasuma to identify recipients of the proposed Rs. 6,000 grant, arguing that past political influence had excluded poor families in Hambantota, and called for a fresh survey and for the grant to be extended beyond one million children to all 4.1 million schoolchildren after proper verification. He requested urgent Ministry action on shortages in Hambantota Muslim schools, including the absence of principals, Tamil-medium teachers, administrative staff and security staff. He also urged implementation of the previously agreed conversion of Puwakdandawa Dharmapala National School in Beliatta into a mixed school. He alleged partisan political activity by certain Hambantota principals and teachers during recent elections, tabled an election dispute resolution letter naming nine principals, and demanded disciplinary action within a month.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, this Supplementary Estimate covers only about one million children out of 4.1 million. Routing it via Aswasuma will create problems, because politicians previously influenced who received Aswasuma. In Hambantota, wealthy families got it while the poor did not. I request a fresh survey in Hambantota to ensure poor families receive Aswasuma and their children the Rs. 6,000 grant.
¶ 02 Another issue: in Hambantota there are 10 Muslim schools; 9 have no principals—only one principal is managing. Please send a special team from the Ministry to survey this and also the lack of Tamil-medium teachers in 68 schools. Administrative staff and security staff are also lacking. Please address these deficits urgently.
¶ 03 I again raise a proposal made last Session: convert Puwakdandawa Dharmapala National School in Beliatta into a mixed school. The principal, staff, School Development Committee, Past Pupils’ Association, Zonal Director, and Southern Provincial Director all consented. I submitted the file to the Hon. PM/Education Minister earlier, and she agreed. I remind the House to implement it.
¶ 04 I must also say this: about 75% of principals and teachers in Hambantota engaged in partisan politics during the last Presidential and General Elections—lecturing students and parents to vote for “Malimaa”. Nine named principals were investigated by the District Election Dispute Resolution Centre, which barred them from election duties and notified the Ministry Secretary to take disciplinary action. I table the letter and ask that action be taken within a month. If not, we will mobilize parents in Hambantota.
¶ 05 The President pledged to enforce the law equally; enforce it on these nine as well. Also, implement the Dharmapala School conversion as agreed. Finally, the President is the President of all children; therefore, extend the Rs. 6,000 not to just 1 million but to all 4.1 million schoolchildren so every poor family receives it after proper verification.
¶ 06 Thank you.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Wednesday, 18 December 2024 ·No. 1735286612086554 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 18 December 2024. No. 1735286612086554. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/12208