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

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we are in a vital debate on education reform. We would have preferred to debate a no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition rather than a Government adjournment motion. It is now clear what has happened to a faction led by the Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa.

¶ 02 All over the world people hold beliefs—some see things scientifically, others by tradition. Some believe if you cast peppers at Seenigama or consult soothsayers without cause, it backfires. Perhaps a similar confusion has befallen the Opposition.

¶ 03 Throughout today’s debate, Opposition MPs tried to say they are not against reforms. Yet, who protested in Matugama before the statue of Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara against these reforms? Sajith Premadasa, Dilith Jayaweera, Jagath Withana and others. In Homagama, Opposition members black-banded and protested against the modules. SJB-linked members elsewhere did the same. Rohana Bandara took supporters and protested in Anuradhapura. With SJB, the Frontline Socialist Party too raised boards and protested against the reforms. Now, facing backlash, they claim inside that they are not against reform, while outside their little groups agitate to halt it.

¶ 04 Their “reasons”? One MP, Dilith Jayaweera, says when they studied there were five-ruled exercise books, now there aren’t—this is his case against reform! Another, Madhura Withanage, said on TV that some module prints are visible from the other side of the page—this is his problem with reform!

¶ 05 According to the Opposition Leader, this is an “educational obscenity.” From the outset he labeled it thus. If he is listening, I ask: what “obscene thoughts” does he get by looking at Grade 6 modules? Seeing the cover of the Civic Education book, does he think of homosexuality? I fear if any of them even read the module. There is an illustration guiding group work—two small boys going together. Does that image alone bring sexualized thoughts to them? Children walking to school together is normal. When little ones study the environment and see rainbow colors, some of them think of the LGBTQ flag. The problem is not with Grade 6 children or their parents; it is with that group—including Sajith Premadasa—who see everything through sexual insinuation.

¶ 06 To stop the reform for children, they used such tactics. A Governor appointed during Maithripala Sirisena’s time and retained by President Ranil Wickremesinghe—Keerthi Tennakoon—posted colored pages on Facebook, claiming the colors induce “homosexual tendencies.” That is how the Opposition behaved. Then Wimal Weerawansa and a certain trade union leader joined in. This cabal blocked the opening for Grade 6 students.

¶ 07 They even twisted the Dhamma Chakra issue. A newspaper claimed the President planned to remove the constitutional clause protecting Buddhism. I checked the source; no such statement appeared in the cited program. This is part of a campaign to stoke religious anger. They also claimed the Government changed the Dhamma Chakra. But coins issued in 2006 for the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi and the 2011 Rs. 1,000 note carried the 24-spoke Dharmachakra—during their own governments. The same symbol appears in teacher guides during 2015–2019. Eminent monastic scholars have endorsed this depiction. They knew this but still spread lies.

¶ 08 Even within the Opposition, some did not sign their no-confidence motion—Members of the TNA, including Hon. Hizbullah and others, did not sign. Now those who did not sign are being attacked by their own side. This is the level of their politics.

¶ 09 To the parents of Grade 6 students: these modules are designed to create 21st-century citizens—Technology for Life, Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy, ICT, etc. A small Opposition clique is trying to block your child’s future by lies and agitation. Understand this, and let us correct errors and move forward with reform. Thank you.