The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, a State Minister told us to speak with knowledge. But will you accept the facts we have? I have the communication dated 04 November 2025 from the Auditor General to the Director General, National Institute of Education. Hon. Mujibur Rahuman tabled this report this morning. When we cite these, you try to claim they’re lies. That reflects your grasp of facts.

¶ 02 Hon. Sujeewa Senasinghe, page 10, paragraph 2.3(9)(14) states:

¶ 03 “For Grades 1 and 6, 106 books to be introduced under the new reforms for the first term were presented for audit, but the number of modules was not provided. For the second and third terms, the number of modules for Grades 1 and 6 differed between information given by the Director General of the Institute and the Department as 31 and 46 respectively. Accordingly, since all modules were not coordinated and supervised from a single central point, there was a risk of omission of modules identified to be prepared under respective subjects.”

¶ 04 This is the Auditor General. Read it. Next, very important: typos like DOG, Vili, and other technical errors were already seen. Today you avoid appointing an Auditor General. Why? Because you fear the 2025 audit will expose your thefts and misdeeds. Read this.

¶ 05 Further, paragraph 2.3(i)(iii) states:

¶ 06 “For 151 modules prepared for the second and third terms for Grades 1 and 6 as presented for audit by the Institute, technical support acquisition, verification of orthographic accuracy, obtaining approvals, and obtaining ISBN numbers had not been carried out...”

¶ 07 These were not done. That is why these errors came. You tell us to speak with facts; yet you have not even read the Auditor General’s material.

¶ 08 You accuse us of lying, but falsehood was born from your side. Many lies were used to seize and retain power. Another MP cited Aesop’s fables; it fits those who lie habitually. There were promises like reducing VAT on school supplies to zero — another lie. More later.

¶ 09 You also called this a conspiracy. Let me explain how, by whom, and for what.

¶ 10 The first front-row Minister said during a cyclone that you can pack earth and hold — showing his level. Another, “big talk, small action,” has ruined the Government. Another spews abuse at the Sangha. Content expunged on the order of the Chair.

¶ 11 Then there is another “big-mouth, small deed”. We see attempts to bring this postponement motion today when the Prime Minister — also the Education Minister — is overseas. Why bring the motion now? That is your conspiracy. You talk of a no-confidence motion, but even before that, the President himself pushed these reforms to 2027. Because of what we said, you now claim you will correct it. So we have already won.

¶ 12 Who stabilizes this motion? What next? Seats are being manoeuvred so a JVP/NPP member will take a key position, to sideline others. Hon. Deputy Chairperson, you too must be cautious. Some are trying to destroy leadership within the NPP by using education as a tool. We oppose using Grade 6 textbooks to advance political conspiracies, using schoolchildren as instruments.

¶ 13 We are not against education reform. We oppose using reform as a cover to stabilize JVP politics and to oust Hon. Harini Amarasuriya within the NPP. Is it fair to use schoolchildren for that?

¶ 14 Different people have different needs. At 18, one may marry; but can sexual conduct be public? No; it is against our morals and culture. Legalizing same-sex matters and bringing it into education — teaching it to children — is problematic. If there is a group with such needs, discuss appropriate laws elsewhere; do not use children, schools, or textbooks. This does not accord with our culture and religions. Therefore we said: do not put all such content on websites and have teachers direct children to it. Listen to the President: even he said to correct this. Yet today the Government brought this motion while some in the JVP attack the character of the Prime Minister/Education Minister. Be careful: even within the NPP, some do not know these machinations. After holding power, courts, police, they sling mud. Enough said.

¶ 15 My time is up.