The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I raise the following.

¶ 02 The core objective of free education reforms was to ensure that all Sri Lankan citizens, without discrimination, have access to education — guaranteeing free education for all and adequate access to higher education beyond free education. We believe C.W.W. Kannangara’s free education concept must be strengthened, protected, modernized and made contemporary, and opportunities in education must be expanded.

¶ 03 The current Government’s policy statement recognizes “free education and equal access” as a fundamental principle, yet actions appear contrary. Therefore, I raise these nationally important questions:

¶ 04 1. How much has the Government of Sri Lanka spent to date on establishing General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU)? What is the course fee payable by a student completing the medical degree at KDU, and how much does the Government spend per student? Please provide separately.

¶ 05 2. What are the reasons for stopping the admission of non-cadet local medical students to KDU from 2025? Reports cite a shortage of specialist medical trainers — what is the truth? If so, how will the Government ensure that admitting foreign students will not be affected by this shortage? This deprives local students of opportunity and pushes them to spend foreign exchange abroad, harming the economy.

¶ 06 3. Given that KDU has been provided with Government resources, how will the Government ensure that stopping admission of non-cadet local medical students does not violate students’ right to equal access to education?

¶ 07 4. Based on degrees or programs offered by state and non-state higher education institutions, how many teachers have been recruited so far to the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service (national/provincial), and in which subjects? Please provide separately.

¶ 08 5. How will the Government ensure that recruiting persons educated through degree programs lacking assured quality (duration/practical training) does not create injustice to students and to the teaching service?

¶ 09 6. What is the Government’s quality assessment of the degrees or programs offered by that higher education institution?

¶ 10 7. Does the Government accept that restricting ordinary students’ admission to KDU while encouraging them to pursue education degrees through non-state higher education institutions violates the fundamental principle of free education and equal access?

¶ 11 This is a matter of national importance. Preventing our children from obtaining a medical degree domestically by spending about Rs. 1.75 million at KDU, and instead pushing them to spend around Rs. 30 million abroad, is the message given. Moreover, KDU graduates help free up places in the public university system; thus, free education opportunities in medicine expand. Therefore, we urge the Government to correct this wrong decision. We await structured answers.