The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today’s “news” says indictments have been filed against me. That is not news. If the Government dares to bring a gallows and say I will be hanged on judgment day—that would be news. We are ready. Whatever they do—jail, shoot, or kill—we will continue to bring to this House the information the people give us against this Government. We will speak without fear, even if imprisoned.

¶ 02 On the Education Ministry: for decades as Chief Minister and in Provincial Councils, we governed by listening to officials and unions at one table. Today, the Government has politically transferred almost the entire Education Administrative Service in the Southern Province, without policy grounds—just politics. Back then you demanded we consult unions; we did. Today you do not. Remember that.

¶ 03 Two months ago I told the Prime Minister about the A/L Economics paper: several questions were similar to a set from the “Sakya” institute in Nugegoda, disadvantaging other students. To date, no inquiry—though marking has begun and results are imminent.

¶ 04 On difficult area allowances for teachers: you promised increases in the Budget, but teachers in Siyambalanduwa (Monaragala) tell me you are stopping the allowance from next month. It was these allowances that drew teachers to Siyambalanduwa, Mahiyanganaya, Vavniya, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa. Most teachers voted for you; you are slowly stabilizing them and then removing benefits. Note this.

¶ 05 You also plan to close schools with under 50 students. In Panadura I was told of closures. In Ella Pradeshiya Sabha area, Illukpelessa and Dodamgolla schools—at the foot of hills—are under 50 students, but access is hard; closing them will abandon children with nowhere to go. Similar in Haldummulla, a very difficult area bordering Balangoda and Wellawaya. The Hon. Ravindra Bandara knows this. Do not close these schools.

¶ 06 Past Presidents Chandrika and Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa each gave 50,000 Government jobs to unemployed graduates—150,000 in total, including to your own members. Now I ask this Government to also give 50,000 jobs to graduates—those who were tear-gassed and suffered during your rule. Do it.

¶ 07 Another matter: the OIC of Ranajayapura Police in Ipalogama allegedly took a woman home to cook at night and kept her until morning; she has now spoken publicly and a facts report has been filed. Yet no action from the DIG or SP of Anuradhapura. We hear he is a relative or ally of the Minister in charge of Police. This cannot be.

¶ 08 In the Western Province, the Grade 11 term test History paper leaked three days before the exam. If the Prime Minister cannot handle Education, assign her another Ministry and hand Education to someone competent.

¶ 09 The National List is for qualified, learned persons—not for defeated candidates or friends and relatives. Hon. Presiding Member, you, a good teacher, could run Education. As it stands, papers leak, chaos reigns, and education is being ruined. Change the Ministry’s leadership.