The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, this is a valuable and timely Bill, long attempted by former Ministers but never tabled. It will ease burdens on small-scale entrepreneurs, especially those hit by war, the Easter attacks, recent cyclones, and now the Middle East conflict’s spillovers. Vehicle repossessions and business loan pressures have escalated; this Bill offers relief.

¶ 02 On education: the Hon. Prime Minister/Education Minister announced Grade 6 reforms from 2027, which we support. But the ongoing primary (Grades 1–5) reforms lack trained teachers and promised technology (e.g., smart boards). Six months have passed; without proper training and equipment, children will struggle, and gaps will widen next year. Opposition has not opposed Grade 6 reforms; the fault lies in inadequate preparation—textbooks/modules should have been ready. Education must advance with technology, under proper conditions; otherwise, it is unfair to our children. There is also a severe nationwide teacher shortage—30,000–40,000 across provinces, with gaps in specific subjects. I urge the Minister to address these urgently.

¶ 03 Regarding religious observances: Muslims celebrate Hajj and must perform Qurbani. There is a procedural issue—local authority permissions and paperwork delays through Municipal and Pradeshiya Sabhas. We respect Vesak and all faiths; the Government and President should facilitate all communities to observe their practices harmoniously while ensuring Vesak arrangements proceed properly. Do not allow communal or religious extremists to create divisions.

¶ 04 Thank you for the opportunity.