The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member, for the opportunity in today’s debate on the Education Head. In Sri Lankan politics over the last three to four decades, education has been one of the most discussed and contested subjects. After the 1947 Free Education Ordinance and recognizing education as a right, in the subsequent decades we expanded access—establishing central colleges, broadening the university system, taking education in native languages to rural children who had never before attended school.

¶ 02 After the 1970s, in 1977 with the government change and the UNP’s restructuring of the economic and social system—the open economy—the priority given to education and welfare was reduced. Consequently, by the 1980s and 1990s, allocations to education declined; check the GDP share chart since 1977. The direction of education shifted—from expanding access and providing what people needed—to treating education as something to be curtailed.

¶ 03 Today some spoke of the Prime Minister’s “six percent.” It is not the Prime Minister’s six percent; it is the principle that 6% of GDP should be allocated to education—an agitation led 13 years ago by university academics, joined by many of us, including Members now in Opposition. Both main political groups governed in those 13 years. Did we see a consistent policy to reach 6%? No. But we have included in our policy statement that, within a battered economy, we will move there progressively. This is our collective principle, not owned by any one person.

¶ 04 Looking at capital expenditure: in 2024 the Ministry of Education had 41,561 million rupees in capital; in our 2025 first Budget we raised it to 65,893 million; in this Budget it is around 70,000 million. Development comes through increasing capital outlays, and for the first time in years we are moving above 2% of GDP, climbing gradually.

¶ 05 On medical faculties: some claim credit for starting two of the twelve. The issue is completing them. In this Budget we have allocated 11,000 million rupees to complete buildings at Sabaragamuwa, Moratuwa, Uva Wellassa, Eastern and North Western medical faculties—something they did not do. For example, Rajarata’s medical faculty, begun in 2005, took seven to eight years to graduate cohorts because facilities lagged; students had to protest in Colombo to get final-year buildings completed. Our vision is clear: strengthen free education and deliver for the people.

¶ 06 We have acted to reduce inequalities and build equity—prioritizing students at risk of leaving school due to poverty. Of 3.8 million students, roughly one-third receive a 6,000-rupee voucher for school supplies—continued this year. Transport is provided for poor students; for schools with fewer than 250 students; for all children in schools with under 500 in certain zones; for special-needs schools; and for pirivena. The school midday meal allocation has been increased; Grade 5 bursaries enhanced. We are increasing capital spending to deliver these.

¶ 07 On Mahapola: when I entered university in 2008, we received 2,500 rupees. After protests—even near Parliament—the allowance was raised to 5,000 rupees just before the 2015 presidential election. This year, our Government raised it to 7,500 in March and then to 10,000 within seven months in the second Budget. For low-income students, an additional 5,000 rupees is available—up to 15,000 in total—through a new mechanism. This is our direction in education.

¶ 08 Finally, I ask the Opposition not to drag every welfare measure into litigation or commissions. Work constructively on benefits for the people.

¶ 09 Thank you.