The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, please allow me to draw attention to this matter.

¶ 02 What does Standing Order 27(2) cover?

¶ 03 “A question of public importance may, after due notice to the relevant Minister, be asked by the Leader of the Opposition or the Leader of a recognized political party in Parliament.”

¶ 04 Hon. Speaker, it is clear in the Standing Orders—“a matter of public importance.” The question asked is not a five-minute remark. It includes teacher vacancies in national and provincial schools, Dharmacharya exam passers, absorption of Development Officers, absorption of trainee graduates into the Teachers’ Service, the Wickramarachchi University, and the Moratuwa University Medical Faculty. These relate to Education and Higher Education. But a matter of public importance should be specified, analyzed, questions asked, and an answer obtained. Hon. Leader of the Opposition, you too must realize how broad this subject path is. Not only the Education Ministry; many ministries are relevant. A fair time is needed to provide a proper answer. This does not meet the requirement of Standing Order 27(2).

¶ 05 Even if limited to five minutes or a word count, if asked this way, the facility granted to party leaders by Standing Orders cannot be properly used. When President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, then as an Opposition MP, asked under 27(2), he asked a specific question, analyzed with facts, in four or five points. Please take that as a model.