The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa
Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa responded to a question on autism services for children, stating that the “Inclusive Early Childhood Development” programme received Cabinet and National Planning Department approval in 2025 after beginning as a pilot in July 2020. He said it is being implemented in six districts, with 55 hospitals across the provinces having paediatric specialists and 20 hospitals operating clinics for conditions including autism. He added that Rs. 200 million was allocated in the 2025 Budget and Rs. 100 million in the 2026 Budget for the programme.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Member has raised a very important question concerning children with autism. The answers are as follows:
¶ 02 (a)(i) Yes. The programme is titled “Inclusive Early Childhood Development”. In 2025, it received Cabinet approval and approval from the National Planning Department.
¶ 03 (ii) It commenced as a pilot in July 2020, with plans to scale nationwide from 2021. It is being implemented in the Districts of Colombo, Kandy, Gampaha, Kalutara, Batticaloa and Galle.
¶ 04 (iii) Number of hospitals where paediatric specialists serve, by Province: - Western: 16 - Southern: 07 - Sabaragamuwa: 07 - North Western: 07 - North Central: 02 - Central: 09 - Uva: 02 - Eastern: 03 - Northern: 02 Total: 55
¶ 05 (iv) Hospitals operating clinics providing care for conditions such as autism: 1. Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children 2. Homagama Base Hospital 3. Maligawatta District General Hospital 4. Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital 5. Werahera KDU Hospital 6. Panadura Base Hospital 7. Kalutara Teaching Hospital (Maternity and Children), Gallella 8. Wathupitiwala Base Hospital 9. North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama (Affiliated Institute) 10. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Children’s Hospital 11. Peradeniya Teaching Hospital 12. Nawalapitiya Base Hospital 13. Gampola Base Hospital 14. Digana Rehabilitation Hospital 15. Teaching Hospital Karapitiya – National Hospital, Galle (Progress Centre) 16. Kattankudy Base Hospital 17. Batticaloa Teaching Hospital 18. Kurunegala Teaching Hospital 19. Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital 20. Kandy Teaching Hospital
¶ 06 (v) Rs. 200 million was allocated in the 2025 Budget; Rs. 100 million has been set aside in the 2026 Budget.
¶ 07 (b) Does not arise.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 8 January 2026 ·No. 23118 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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/lk/speeches/4842
Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 8 January 2026. No. 23118. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/4842