Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I will begin regarding the University of Jaffna. Hon. Prime Minister, the total cadre for non-academic staff is 1,090, but only 761 are filled, leaving 329 vacancies unfilled for years. Previous governments refused to fill them and pressured the University not to advertise. Since your Government took office, the Vice Chancellor and administration have had some courage; out of 329, they asked to fill only 170 — grossly inadequate. In the last ten years, six new faculties have been added to Jaffna University, yet cadre has not been revised for decades. Students and non-academic staff are up in arms. We request that, apart from revising cadre — which must be done — at the very least, fill all 329 vacancies. Currently, some gaps are met via private companies at exorbitant cost. It makes no sense not to fill the cadre immediately. I seek your urgent intervention.

¶ 02 Next, you are under fire from the Opposition; I add my logic. The biggest complaint is teachers’ salary revisions. In Opposition, you strongly advocated the Subodhini Salary Commission’s recommendations; I recall supporting you during Budgets. Since this Government took office, some revisions were made, but they fall well short of the Subodhini Commission’s recommendations.

¶ 03 Education is fundamental. If we do not treat teachers well, the country will not prosper; students will not reach potential; we will suffer long-term. If any sector is prioritized, it must be education and health. If those managing them are not cared for, we fail as a society and a country. It is no coincidence educators and doctors are leaving in numbers to Australia and Canada. Under your watch, give due weight to education. We fought with you for 6% of GDP for education; this time it is only an increase to 1.3% of GDP, and just 6.8% of total budgetary allocation — grossly short. Prioritize it; if you take that decision, we will support you unconditionally. I believe the entire Opposition will support you if you reform the sector, especially teachers’ remuneration, in line with Subodhini.

¶ 04 For example, for Grade 2-11 teachers, the shortfall between Subodhini and your Government’s 2025 recommendations is Rs. 10,489; for 2026, Rs. 12,879; for 2027, Rs. 15,270 — a lot of money. I have a full list; I will place it in the Library. Please rectify this.

¶ 05 Another strong criticism: under the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government, to secure ADB funding, reforms were unilaterally created, heavily opposed by the JVP and by you; we opposed them too. Now, more or less the same reforms are being pushed by this Government. Are we going to push those unilateral, stakeholder-unconsulted reforms just to get ADB funds? You should not take that blame; please look into it.

¶ 06 On extending school time: in many Muslim schools in the North and East, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, they run till 2.50 p.m. Extending time from 1.30 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. means students cannot have lunch; they will suffer. Many come from economically struggling families; most skip breakfast after the crash. Under such circumstances, extending time must be reconsidered, or food provided. Especially, for Muslim students going till 2.50 p.m. three days a week — completely unacceptable. Please look into it.

¶ 07 On teachers serving in difficult areas: in Jaffna, the list of “difficult schools” was revised using criteria that make no sense — removing 16 island schools from the list because they have a post office, a hospital, etc. The biggest issue is transport from the mainland; such criteria are irrelevant. Removing those 16 schools does not make sense. Similar issues exist across the North and East; please change the criteria.

¶ 08 On the allowance for difficult areas: since about 2005, Rs. 1,500 for difficult areas and Rs. 2,500 for extremely difficult; now there seems to be one category, with an increment of only Rs. 1,500. In today’s economy, that is unrealistic. Teachers going to these areas are starting their lives; Rs. 1,500 a month is absurd — in Parliament, one day’s meal is Rs. 1,500. This discourages teachers from serving in difficult areas. Please review.

¶ 09 I will not be as harsh as usual. You are highly respected. I understand that being in Opposition is one thing; in Government, circumstances differ. But the inequalities and the Ranil Wickremesinghe-style reforms we opposed still persist. Please review them.

¶ 10 I have also brought people from Australia to assist with English education. They suggested certain reforms. Please indicate whether you have considered them; whether you accept them or not is another matter, but let me know if you have evaluated them and if they are inadequate, in what way.

¶ 11 Thank you.