The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, we are discussing the Ministry headed by our Hon. Prime Minister. I must say something frankly. Madam Prime Minister, please advise some who represent the Ministry of Education on their conduct. They attack women in newspapers over looks and body-shaming. This is unacceptable. If someone in our party behaved so, we would remove them. Ask them to learn English properly if needed; ministers should not need remedial teaching while children are to be taught.

¶ 02 You said this is the biggest allocation. Under Bandula Gunawardana, the highest spending for Education was recorded; then during 2016-2019 under Akila Viraj Kariyawasam too, major spending occurred. His “Nearest School - Best School” concept brought rapid development to Monaragala and Badulla with over Rs. 15,000 million to schools. We must acknowledge good work regardless of politics.

¶ 03 On Development Officers: 16,000 are now out of service following a Supreme Court matter during Susil Premajayantha’s period; an understanding was reached that upon completing a Postgraduate Diploma within three years they would be regularized, and until then given temporary appointments. You promised this during elections but have forgotten. They protested at the Railway Station; now they are before the President’s Office. The shortest solution is to honour the understanding and absorb them, regularizing after completion of the PGD.

¶ 04 On reforms and disparities: within Colombo Zone, Royal College ranks first at O/L, while schools in Grandpass and Dematagoda rank around 4,000. In Bandarawela Zone, Bandarawela Central is ranked 10 nationally, while schools on the Karandagolla, Wellawaya, Haldummulla margins rank around 5,000. Even within Colombo, such disparities exist — reforms must address this.

¶ 05 On process: Madam Minister, you seem to engage only with NIE and Ministry officials; you must consult academics, professionals, lawyers, civil society, Government and Opposition.

¶ 06 There is a nationwide teacher union protest on 12th against these reforms. This cannot be done by a closed group.

¶ 07 On University of Ruhuna Allied Health Faculty: while others have admitted students, Ruhuna has not, leaving 250 students waiting for years. Please resolve.

¶ 08 On A/L Economics papers: It is being said that the “Sakya” institute in Nugegoda issued model papers and that in the 2025 A/L Economics I paper, 27 of 50 MCQs matched those, and in Economics II, 5 of 10 questions matched. I have both the institute’s papers and the Department’s papers and I table them. If true, equity is compromised — rural students cannot access those classes.

¶ 09 On school administration issues: there are serious complaints against the Principal of Gampaha Anura Central and against the Principal of St. John’s, Nugegoda; I table the relevant documents. Please investigate.

¶ 10 On acting principals: they serve in remote, difficult schools with minimal allowances while grade-holding principals choose city schools. Many Tamil-medium and estate schools rely on acting principals. We previously pushed to place acting principals at an appropriate salary grade; their issue remains unresolved while new young recruits are brought in. Also, a case: two teachers joined in 2006; one became principal in 2018. With the new adjustments, the principal’s salary is Rs. 67,000 while the teacher’s is Rs. 73,000. Such anomalies must be fixed.

¶ 11 On pensions: two engineers retiring on 31.12.2024 and 02.01.2025 see a Rs. 70,000 difference in pension despite similar careers. This is grossly unfair.

¶ 12 Education is the heart of the nation. In poor provinces like Uva, only education can rescue people. In 1988, under the first Provincial Council and Chief Minister Percy Samaraweera, there were no administrative officers in Badulla and Monaragala; now there are about 500 due to incentives like vehicles. Similarly, disadvantaged provinces must be uplifted through education.

¶ 13 Finally, Madam Prime Minister, during elections you promised 6 percent for education. Today we are ranked around 180th out of about 200 countries in education spending. The Finance Ministry must allocate much more to education.

¶ 14 Thank you.