The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply

¶ 01 Our Government speakers are forthright today. On education reforms, do not come to teach us. Most on the opposite benches, except a few, have been parts of past Governments that tried to sell free education. We fought those. Wasantha Samarasinghe, Nalinda Jayatissa, Sunil Handunnetti and others — through the IUSF and medical faculty action committees — fought to protect free education. So we know every letter of your so-called reforms; we have experience resisting them, such as stopping the “breast milk management” course meant to commodify care. Therefore, don’t lecture us on reforms; we are well aware.

¶ 02 Today, you are trying to agitate against these reforms. Initially you said you oppose reforms; now you say, “We agree with reforms, but...” You organized protests, marches, attempted to incite parents, to build a narrative to reach power through scaremongering. Now you are backtracking, because the public has understood your game.

¶ 03 You spoke of bringing no-confidence motions — first against the State Minister of Defence; then against the Speaker; then against the Health Minister; now against the Prime Minister. Bring them. We also want to see how a no-confidence is actually brought and carried.

¶ 04 The Prime Minister went to the World Economic Forum with Cabinet approval; had you brought a no-confidence, she would have returned. But you delayed: one week Parliament sits not, next week a holiday — you try to stall, waiting for her face-to-face. We understand.

¶ 05 On content: you sensationalize Grade 6 Civic Education covers having rainbow colours, alleging promotion of homosexuality. Do our children not draw rainbows? Are yellow, blue, green forbidden? I have many printed modules; you ignore their content and isolate a cover’s colours to incite parents. This is to create doubt and fear and attack reforms. Don’t do this.

¶ 06 You cited an audit report — what scientific critique of the reforms did it contain? None. You bring good speakers to make falsehoods sound true and to frighten society and parents to keep children away. Yet reforms are needed: our exam-centric system recognizes only limited skills; it creates pressure; children are exhausted. Many hoped Grade 6 would be a freer learning year after the Grade 5 Scholarship grind; you targeted that sensitivity.

¶ 07 Parents’ protests are claimed to be organized by the NPP; if so, fine — but most parents demand proper implementation, not abandonment. Do not exploit parents’ genuine hopes. We must begin reforms, change methods, improve infrastructure and human resources, and move forward. Please support us. Do not destroy this process. Many experts and parents hope this long-discussed change will proceed. If not now, when? We will continue, clarify, and educate the public. Thank you.