The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, today’s debate began on the Government’s decision to grant Rs. 6,000 to the majority of schoolchildren to purchase books and stationery. We believe no child should have his or her education limited by parents’ wealth or poverty. Therefore, not only children of Aswesuma families but also those from other families facing difficulties will be given Rs. 6,000 from the start of next year.

¶ 02 Since a debate arose about educational qualifications, I must say: Many parents dream of making their children doctors. There is a proper pathway. One cannot just bring assorted certificates and say “I am a doctor; I registered in some registry abroad.” Graduates from state medical faculties and foreign graduates who pass the ERPM (Act 16) receive provisional registration from the SLMC, then do one-year internship, and thereafter receive permanent registration with an SLMC number. Except for the questioned Member here, all doctors can state their SLMC Registration Number.

¶ 03 Under our Medical Ordinance, without registration you cannot use the title “doctor.” Section 38 states: “No person, not being a medical practitioner, shall (a) take or use any name, title, or addition implying a qualification to practice medicine or surgery by modern scientific methods…” So foreign numbers are irrelevant; show your SLMC registration. If you cannot now, bring it later; we will accept. Otherwise, do not proceed down this path—first do ERPM, get SLMC registration, complete internship.

¶ 04 We are granting Rs. 6,000 to our children. There is also the President’s Fund (Act No. 7 of 1978) which can assist: (1) relief of poverty; (2) development of education/knowledge; (3) religious purposes; (4) those who served the nation; (5) other public welfare as determined. I have details of payments from 2005–2024. Many of us know how hard it is for an ordinary person to get help for heart surgery or cancer. Yet many well-known figures have received funds. Names include P. Harrison; Piyasena Gamage; Sumedha Jayasena; Manoj Sirisena; P. Dayaratne; S.C. Muthukumarana; Nanayakkara; Sarath Amunugama; S.B. Navinna—these are among those who received funds.

¶ 05 Some entries mask names: J.P.D.P.K. Jayasekara, “former MP - Kurunegala District”—who is that? The only Jayasekara from Kurunegala we know is Dayasiri Jayasekara. Then Jagath Withana; H.M.P.N. de Silva—no such candidate; but Piyal Nishantha de Silva is there. S.A.D.S. Premajayantha, address Nugegoda—this is Susil Premajayantha. Another name reads E.A.I.D.D. Perera—former Chief Minister of Basnahira Province—Isura Devapriya Dharmasena Perera.

¶ 06 Further amounts: S.A. Jagath Kumara—Rs. 1 million; K.P.S. Kumarasiri—Rs. 953,430 in 2022; Jayalath Jayawardhana—Rs. 1 million; Namal Gunawardena—Rs. 1 million; Dharmadasa Banda—Rs. 1 million; Vidura Wickramanayake—Rs. 1.5 million; Vimal Weerasinghe—Rs. 3 million; Lucky Jayawardhana (Kandy)—Rs. 1.628 million; P. Chandrasekaran—Rs. 1.4 million; John Amaratunga—Rs. 4 million in 2014; Michael Perera—Rs. 2.78 million; T.B. Ekanayake—Rs. 4.8 million; W.M.S. Fonseka—Rs. 5.58 million; former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s legal adviser, Attorney Jayanta Weerasinghe—Rs. 9 million in 2022; H.E.S. Aluvihare—Rs. 2.2 million; Ranjith Aluvihare—Rs. 860,000; the Aluvihare family, repeatedly; Rajitha Senaratne—Rs. 10 million; Keheliya Rambukwella—Rs. 11 million for medical treatment abroad; M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena—Rs. 11.2 million; Ranjith de Zoysa—Rs. 1.8 million; D.M. Jayaratne—Rs. 30 million. These are public funds of the President’s Fund—while ordinary people struggle to get a few lakhs.

¶ 07 Chairs of the Fund’s Board were the incumbent Presidents: Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe. This happened even under your Government. The people and Parliament were unaware. Meanwhile, from 2022.09.01 to 2024.09.30, the PM’s Office medical unit spent Rs. 12,110,220 per year—Rs. 12.1 million—despite being close to all top hospitals. The current PM reduced such costs. This is how previous governments spent taxpayers’ money. We are stopping such waste and redirecting to the people’s children.

¶ 08 Now some goods are in short supply; when they say “no coconut” or “no rice,” what they mean is “no stealing.” We have stopped theft.

¶ 09 Hon. Leader of the Opposition, after allegations, your Members responded. You, too, can now state your educational qualifications. Two main issues: what local school certificate do you hold, and your London School of Economics and Political Science certificate—please present them. Our former Speaker A.S.P. Liyanage—excuse me—former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya resigned only to obtain time to present his doctorate certificate—not because there was an issue with it. You are facing social media allegations—please table your LSE credentials.

¶ 10 We will provide maximum support for education and human capital. Thank you.