Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, it is a great honour to speak today on this very important and sensitive Ministry.

¶ 02 First, I wish to draw attention to the loss of our close colleague from the university community, Dr. Janaki Jayawardena, who passed away unexpectedly in a road accident a few days ago. She was an ideal intellectual and a beloved teacher; her students and colleagues held her in deep affection. She led from behind during the 2011–2012 Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) struggle—an historic, society-wide movement for education, showing how a trade union could lead a social cause beyond sectional demands. Without her, that struggle would not have been possible. We feel her absence keenly. I extend my condolences to her family, students, colleagues, and the wider university community.

¶ 03 Turning to the Budget: for 2025, we have allocated Rs. 619 billion to education for the next eight months, including Rs. 21 billion for capital expenditure—the highest in recent history for education capex. We have a clear plan for spending. Without fixing education, broader social, political, and economic transformation is not possible. Our proposed education reforms rest on five pillars.

¶ 04 First pillar: curriculum. Not merely updating, but creating a system that produces human resources for social transformation, with a new subject suite. Rs. 250 million is allocated, plus Rs. 160 million via projects.

¶ 05 Second pillar: human capacity. Past reforms faltered because only curriculum changed. We focus on capacity building for principals, teachers, and teacher educators and administrators. For the first time, we allocate Rs. 1,640 million to capacity development.

¶ 06 Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan: Hon. Prime Minister—

¶ 07 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya: Yes, Hon. Member.

¶ 08 Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan: We set aside five months for reform work then, assisted by USAID. Please review those reports; convene a session if needed.

¶ 09 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya: Thank you very much.

¶ 10 Continuing: beyond the current service, we looked at National Colleges of Education and faculties of education. Conditions are poor—hostels, canteens, basic utilities are lacking; many still teach with blackboards despite talk of smart classrooms. We will prioritize fixing these this year.

¶ 11 For years, projects targeted school infrastructure. The “Nearest School is the Best School” programme has many half-finished buildings that are unsafe—no electricity, no basic facilities. Some schools still lack sanitation and water. Therefore, we have allocated Rs. 11,000 million to complete unfinished projects, with special focus on sanitation, and to end the indignity of schools without proper sanitation this year—especially in estate areas.

¶ 12 Through the line Ministry we have allocated Rs. 11,126 million, and via Provincial Councils Rs. 14,896 million, to resolve these issues—our third pillar.

¶ 13 Fourth pillar: assessment. Learning must be taught and also assessed; the Department of Examinations bears responsibility. Its needs have long been unmet. We now allocate Rs. 12,360 million—the highest in many years—to strengthen assessments. Centralized exams create intense student stress; reforming assessment requires a strong examinations department.

¶ 14 Fifth pillar: social dialogue. Education cannot be confined to the Ministry, teachers, or students. Society must be prepared for change. We need public intellectuals and activists—like Janaki Jayawardena—to build this dialogue. We also allocate resources for child welfare; details will be presented during the debate.

¶ 15 On higher education: quality is our priority—not merely establishing universities, faculties, or courses. Too often, politically driven expansions occurred without attention to quality or student outcomes. We will strengthen quality. Student welfare is also critical. Enrolments have increased, but facilities lag. I visited Hardy Advanced Technological Institute in Ampara—founded in 1955, once a pillar of higher technical education. Current dorms are in terrible condition—poor lighting, pests, no mattresses, inadequate kitchens; students cook only once a day due to constraints. The German Training Institute in Kilinochchi lacks hostels; students use office toilets. We cannot build dignity without basic facilities.

¶ 16 Therefore, we allocate Rs. 36,841 million for higher education infrastructure, prioritizing student welfare and accommodation (not necessarily hostels in every university, but workable solutions). Institutions must examine students’ living and nutrition conditions.

¶ 17 On vocational education: it must become a modern, respected pathway aligned to current and future labour market needs, offering valued choices for youth and producing the workforce the country requires.

¶ 18 Hon. Chairman: Hon. Prime Minister, you have only two more minutes.

¶ 19 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya: I will conclude. Let us approach this beyond party lines. If we want a humane, cultured society with both intellect and heart, education must be humanized and treated as a social responsibility. We are committed to this change. Thank you for the time.