The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education
Government teacher transfers are governed by the National Teacher Transfer Policy, though recent implementation lapses were acknowledged; inter-zonal transfers were conducted in several years, with annual transfers to resume from April 2025. The response also stated that irregularities in school admissions had been reported, and that intermediate-grade admissions would henceforth be made only through circulars where vacancies exist, not by ad hoc letters. Vacancies were reported in the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service, Teacher Educators’ Service and Principals’ Service, with recruitment processes under way, including pending PSC procedures, Cabinet approval for principals’ recruitment, and further examinations to fill remaining posts.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Teacher Transfers and Vacancies: Details (Q. 451/2025) on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education
¶ 02 (a) (i) Yes. Except for disciplinary matters, government teacher transfers are made under the National Teacher Transfer Policy. (ii) Yes. There were lapses in proper implementation in the recent past. (iii) In 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024, inter-zonal transfers were implemented. In 2024, applications were called online and processed in under a year; from this year, transfers will be conducted annually, commencing April 2025. (iv) Yes, reports indicate corruption, fraud and irregularities in recent student admissions to government schools. (v) Henceforth, admissions to intermediate grades will not be done by ad hoc letters; only via circulars and only where vacancies exist. Existing circulars will be updated to strengthen due process.
¶ 03 (b) (i) Yes. Vacancies exist in SLEAS, SLTES and SLPS. (ii) Vacancies: - Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS): 1,334 (as at 2025.02.28) - Sri Lanka Teacher Educators’ Service (SLTES): 1,310 (to date) - Sri Lanka Principals’ Service (SLPS): 1,610 (as at 2024.12.31) (iii) Measures: SLEAS: Recruitment was delayed due to COVID-19 and fiscal constraints. Actions now taken: 1. Limited competitive exam for Grade III recruitment (442 posts) held on 23.09.2023; interviews on 21, 22, 24, 27, 29, 30 Aug and 3, 4, 6, 7 Sept 2024; documents sent to PSC Education Services Committee on 29.01.2025. 2. Open competitive exam for Grade III (113 posts) held 29.07.2023; interviews 23–24 Oct 2024; documents sent on 03.01.2025. Recruitments for 555 posts will be completed within three months; a further exam will be held to fill remaining 779 vacancies.
¶ 04 SLPS: Based on vacancies as at 01.01.2025, Cabinet approval was sought on 31.01.2025 to conduct a new competitive exam and expedite recruitment upon approval.
¶ 05 SLTES: Approved cadre 2,098; in service 788; vacancies 1,310. Due to a 2022 policy suspension on recruitments, processes were delayed. Subsequently: - Open stream: 384 posts. Exam held in 2021; results in 2022; interviews for qualifications verification held Nov 2024; files being finalized for PSC Education Services Committee. - Limited stream: 706 posts. Qualification interviews held July 2023; competency interviews May 2024; documents sent to PSC; marks being forwarded via Dept. of Examinations. After recruiting 1,090 officers, about 225 vacancies will still remain.
¶ 06 (c) Does not arise.
¶ 07 Supplementary
Provenance
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- Hansard, Monday, 10 March 2025 ·No. 1743651953052186 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 10 March 2025. No. 1743651953052186. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/29346