Hon. Mujibur Rahman

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, at the time of adjournment I raise the following matter:

¶ 02 “Meelad Vidyalaya, a Tamil-medium school in the Dehiwala–Piliyandala Zone established in 1952, currently educates about 574 students. The school land is only about 23 perches; due to lack of space, many children cannot attend and remain at home.

¶ 03 This school also conducts G.C.E. (A/L) Arts stream classes and is a bilingual school. Owing to insufficient space, on 10.10.2024 an unused building in the Dehiwala area of the Piliyandala Zone was allocated for this purpose. Thereafter, the School Development Society spent about Rs. 3 million to renovate it.

¶ 04 On 08.01.2025, it was planned to use this building for Grades 1–5, but due to the intervention of a certain group, it could not commence. Over eight months after the new school term began, these children are still compelled to study outdoors.

¶ 05 I urge that special attention be paid and that an unused building belonging to the Ministry of Education in this area be provided urgently for this purpose.”

¶ 06 In Dehiwala, Galikissa, and Ratmalana areas, Tamil-medium schools are few—Hindu Vidyalaya in Ratmalana is one, and there is one in Moratuwa at the far end of Colombo District. Between Moratuwa and this school there is a distance of 10–15 km. There is a large Tamil-speaking population—around 20,000–30,000. Despite repeated efforts, space has been the issue. Religious foundation schools in the vicinity offer very limited slots to other communities.

¶ 07 This school conducts A/L Arts and is bilingual, with English medium from Grade 6—hence the demand. The principal engaged the authorities; there are several schools with fewer than 60 students in this zone and many unused buildings. With approvals from the Zonal Director, Provincial Senior Assistant Secretary, and education authorities, temporary use of a Dehiwala building belonging to Sumantha Vidyalaya was permitted, and Rs. 3 million was spent on renovations. Yet, due to protests by a group, Grade 1–5 classes could not start, and now those children are studying outdoors.

¶ 08 I urge the Minister of Education to intervene immediately and provide a suitable government building or a low-attendance school building in the area so these children can continue their education without delay. Thank you.