The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, while we debate extension of the emergency, a previous Minister said past governments used emergency to suppress the people. We cannot accept that characterization. The long, brutal terrorist war was ended using these very emergency laws. If anyone oppressed the people then, it was by the law of the gun, not by the proper use of emergency alone.

¶ 02 Today the President is in Kandy issuing cheques to those displaced by “Ditva.” We saw earlier issues when cheques were issued without adequate preparation; we trust that will not recur today and that people will not be inconvenienced.

¶ 03 The question remains: if your Government could not even accomplish what is possible under normal law, how will it achieve them under emergency? Recently, because Development Officers commenced a fast unto death, the teachers’ recruitment examination is being arranged. For that decision, we thank the Government. However, the Gazette calling for applications to recruit Development Officers as teachers has significant shortcomings.

¶ 04 Notably, for subjects such as “Educational Science” and “Public Administration,” currently no Sri Lankan university offers specialized degree programmes; per UGC information, how can degree-holders be recruited in these? Also, the University of Colombo’s International Relations degree and the University of Kelaniya’s International Studies degree are valuable—covering global politics, trends, and history—yet graduates are not eligible for teaching posts under this Gazette. That is a serious issue.

¶ 05 Similarly, Archaeology graduates are excluded from joining the Sri Lanka Teaching Service, though archaeology graduates can teach History; Provincial recruitments have recognized this. Even the Director-General of Archaeology has written to the Ministry supporting their inclusion. The Minister of Education, being a former university academic, will, I hope, address this and restore eligibility.

¶ 06 Another issue: a recent circular has suspended the granting of local and foreign leave in the public service. Many who had already fulfilled requirements and applied for such leave now face severe hardship—loans taken, employment contracts abroad signed, and expenses incurred—all jeopardized. We request that those who have already initiated the leave process be afforded relief.

¶ 07 On development allocations: we were told there would be Member allocations for 2025 and 2026. In Galle District, Rs. 7 million per MP was given last year; neither I nor Hon. Gayantha Karunathilaka received allocations. Moreover, current rules prevent using Member allocations to assist temples, daham schools, sports clubs, rural development societies, or preschools—unlike in prior Parliaments. If allocations cannot be used even to provide basic sports gear for a village child, what is the point? While we welcome de-politicized allocations and believe they will be realized, the process must allow addressing genuine local needs.

¶ 08 Thank you.