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

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson, we are debating the extension of the Gazette declaring an emergency due to Cyclone “Ditwah.” The scale of damage to infrastructure—especially roads and bridges—has been immense. Many schools and houses need to be rebuilt. Landslide risk has escalated; NBRO has already issued around 1,300 landslide reports. We must mobilize resources—human and material—rapidly, correct faults, and minimize further harm. The rationale for extension is precisely this: to maintain essential services and appoint an Essential Services Commissioner General for efficient, rapid implementation—so that affected lives and livelihoods can be restored quickly.

¶ 02 Additionally, the President has appointed a Task Force—chaired by me—to guide, coordinate and allocate resources effectively. There are eight subcommittees covering social infrastructure, economic sectors, human resources, finance and funds management, data and information systems, public communications, and others. We have also appointed a high-level committee to coordinate foreign aid. Many countries and missions supported us post-“Ditwah,” with funds and personnel. The sole intention of extending these Regulations is to manage an unprecedented situation efficiently and quickly, to restore normalcy as soon as possible.

¶ 03 It has become a habit for the Opposition to raise unfounded claims in morning sittings. For instance, a senior Opposition Member said the Trincomalee arrests of monks were under Emergency. That is false; action there was under ordinary law. Likewise, claims that we have used Emergency to suppress media or protests are baseless. Please cite specific instances in the last two months where protests were stopped or media suppressed under Emergency.

¶ 04 On education reforms: when issues were identified, as Minister I took corrective steps. That is responsible governance—acknowledging errors and fixing them, not hiding them. We have not withdrawn the reforms; Grade 1 is underway, and work on the five reform pillars continues. Only the Grade 6 subject stream rollout has been deferred to 2027 to address the identified problems.

¶ 05 On relief progress within two months of the cyclone: - Rs. 15,000 grant for affected schoolchildren: 72% completed by 20 January. - Death compensation: 50% completed. - Rs. 50,000 grant: 77% completed. - Rs. 25,000 grant: 98% completed.

¶ 06 Further grants require assessments (e.g., NBRO reports for new housing sites, livelihood assessments for agriculture). These take time but are progressing. I respectfully request that Members present accurate information and avoid spreading misinformation in this House.

¶ 07 Thank you.