Hon. Nalin Hewage - Deputy Minister of Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, in this Education debate on the 2026 Budget, listening since morning to the Opposition’s arguments, it seems they want to claim that up to 2025 they developed education very well, and within one year we destroyed it, and that is what we are discussing today. They had 76 years — 27,000 days — to build education; now they talk about what we allegedly destroyed in 365 days. Better they go to the mirror at the back gate of Parliament and say these things to themselves. I will later explain how they really handled education.

¶ 02 Any country’s path is determined by development. If the economy develops, problems lessen and the journey lengthens. If we lag in development, the journey is short and to a dead end. Development depends mainly on two factors: the country’s physical resources and the quantity and productivity of its human resources.

¶ 03 Sri Lanka does not have vast physical resources; therefore, if we aim for development, the heavier weight must be on children’s education. We expect 7–8% growth in a year or two. To get there, in this Budget we have again allocated around 4% of GDP for education, expecting private sector investment too. But we are not yet at a level to attract enough private investment; thus our development hinges on upgrading human capital. That is why this government places priority on education. If education collapses, health collapses; all sectors collapse. The Minister, Deputy Minister, Secretaries and team have worked as one to significantly advance education for the coming year.

¶ 04 What you raised since morning is not about us; if we did anything wrong newly, tell us and we will fix it. But you spoke of closed schools, lack of desks, chairs, teacher shortages, empty teachers’ quarters — all of which are your legacy.

¶ 05 Let me recall a parable: when someone abuses you and you do not accept it, it remains with them. Likewise, we will not accept the blame you cast; you must keep it. Those who ruined education are those sitting there.

¶ 06 I recall Hon. Chamara Sampath saying they allocated the most to education. That is nonsense. Let me read from official reports I obtained from Parliament and the Central Bank. Since 2010, the highest allocation to education has been made this year by our government — I will place the report in the Library. Learn the facts first.

¶ 07 To the SLPP: in 2006, allocation to education was 2.90% of GDP. By 2012, it fell to 1.86%, and by 2014 to 1.82%. From 2.90% when Mahinda Rajapaksa took office, by the time “the fathers” left, it was 1.82% — a full percentage point cut in education spending, and you all raised your hands for it. Your children go to Cambridge and Oxford or other foreign universities, often with money siphoned from the Treasury; then you come here and pontificate, while cutting education spending for village children.

¶ 08 Under the UNP in 2015, education was 2.01% of GDP; by 2019, 1.93% — again a cut under Sajith’s government. Now, under us: in 2024, 1.78%; in 2025, 1.94%; and for 2026, 2.04%. We indeed said we aim for 6% — but never that we would do it in one year. If you had given us a healthy Treasury and prosperous country, we could. Instead, we inherited a bankrupt state; we are advancing step by step, with heavy effort, moving towards 6%, not towards your cuts.

¶ 09 In rupees: 2024 allocation was Rs. 534 billion; 2025 — Rs. 620 billion; an increase of Rs. 86 billion in one year. In 2026, Rs. 704 billion — another Rs. 84 billion. Over two years, an increase of Rs. 170 billion for education. We are moving in the right direction.

¶ 10 You say funds are allocated but not used. Let me show how you used funds: in 2005, capital allocation was Rs. 9,782 million; only Rs. 6,444 million was spent — 65%. In 2008, Rs. 7,202 million allocated; only Rs. 3,530 million spent — 49%. In your best UNP year, 2018, capital allocation Rs. 43,109 million; actual spent Rs. 26,503 million — 61%. That was Sajith’s government. You did not use what was allocated.

¶ 11 We need to reform the state service; that is why we have increased salaries over three years, allocating Rs. 300 billion, and are providing 1,775 cabs to the state service to improve delivery — not to MPs. These are for public servants, along with pay rises and facilities, so we can get the job done.

¶ 12 On vocational education, we have placed major focus: more funding and deep reforms, introducing vocational education into schools. In 2021–2023, you charged fees from students entering VTA courses, causing intake to halve in some centres like Katunayake. While funding your children to study abroad, you cut funds for our children’s vocational training. In one year, we introduced a 1966 hotline and a chatbot; in 2024 we allocated Rs. 28 billion; in 2025, Rs. 40 billion; and added another Rs. 2 billion this year to develop vocational training centres — Rs. 8 billion for centres alone. While your children went to Cambridge, our children learned in temple halls; we are now building 50 vocational centres with Rs. 2 billion. No child will be left at home; no youth’s labour will go to waste. From next month, CDCs will operate, mobilizing over 14,000 public servants to map local physical and human resources into the economy, guide youth into programmes, and build competencies.

¶ 13 Our Ministry has 311 institutions; last year I visited 84 — including all four Ceylon German Technical Training Institutes (Ratmalana, Borella, Kilinochchi; only Anamaduwa remains to visit), the University of Vocational Technology, AOC Institute, Ocean University, and centres in Anuradhapura, Matara, Mattakkuliya, Boossa, Tangalle, and Rajagiriya. Chairmen said no minister had visited before. We are working on the ground, every Monday hosting public days. We are repairing the system. The only fear we have is that the Opposition may become irrelevant.

¶ 14 When we formed this government, I said you would be happy in many ways, but suffer from one pain: never having seen such a government before. That is the pain you now have; but the people do not.

¶ 15 Mahapola: since 1981, for 45 years, the scholarship was Rs. 5,000. We came and in two years doubled it to Rs. 10,000, without students protesting on the streets. We must build education — and educate some Members too. This morning, the Opposition Leader said nothing was done for preschool children. Yet appointing a preschooler to the post of Leader of the Opposition must be the highest consideration! Beyond jest, we are taking significant steps. With the Minister, Deputy Minister, Secretary and team working as one family, we will build a good education for a good country, accepting constructive proposals. I conclude.

¶ 16 Thank you.