The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education
Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna outlined 2026 Budget allocations for education and higher education, including LKR 11.5 billion for research and development, funding to regulate non-state higher education, and measures to standardize open, distance, and external degree programmes. He cited increased support for university digitalization, student loans, recruitment of academic and non-academic staff, higher allowances in advanced technological institutes, and increased capital expenditure. He also detailed allocations for estate schools, including buildings, teachers’ quarters, Indian-assisted upgrades, supplies for small schools, and 308 teachers through the Sri Pada College of Education, stating that many commitments in the Government’s education policy chapter had been implemented.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson.
¶ 02 We have allocated the highest-ever amount for Research and Development in the 2026 Budget: LKR 11,500 million. This will bridge the long-standing divide between farms and universities and between industry and universities, aligning academia with the economy—one of our signature achievements.
¶ 03 We will also regulate private universities and non-state higher education; LKR 40 million is allocated in 2026 for standardization.
¶ 04 Open and distance education must be standardized. External degree programs should be aligned with modern qualifications, produce employability, and contribute to human capital. We are modernizing standards so education spending becomes investment.
¶ 05 On digitalization, we are fiber-networking all universities. For the University of Kelaniya, LKR 100 million is allocated in 2026.
¶ 06 Student loan schemes: LKR 2,785 million was allocated last year; LKR 3,057 million in 2026—an increase of LKR 250 million—to ensure finance is not a barrier. Since 2022, recruitments were frozen. Non-academic staff are the backbone of universities. We have approvals to recruit 3,152 staff (1,284 academic positions already stalled since 2022 and 1,868 non-academic), plus 307 new appointments cleared by the Department of Management Services. Allowances in Advanced Technological Institutes and other higher education institutes have been increased parallel to Mahapola up to LKR 5,000. Capital expenditure is increased by LKR 400 million this year over last year.
¶ 07 On estate schools: In 2026, LKR 741 million is allocated for buildings; LKR 465 million for teachers’ quarters to address teacher shortages; LKR 236 million from Indian assistance for school upgrades. We will provide shoe vouchers and stationery to all schools with under 300 students. As a remedy to teacher shortages, 308 teachers will be provided through the Sri Pada College of Education.
¶ 08 Our time-bound commitments in the education chapter of the “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” policy statement have largely been completed within a short period. We thank the staff of the Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, the University Grants Commission, all universities, and the public for their support.
¶ 09 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 25 November 2025 ·No. 22979 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 25 November 2025. No. 22979. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/16630