Topic
Education
1,409 speeches · 257 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 213 |
| 2 | Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna, M.P. JJB | 99 |
| 3 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 51 |
| 4 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 29 |
| 5 | Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, M.P. SJB | 25 |
| 6 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 25 |
| 7 | Hon. Nalin Hewage, M.P. JJB | 21 |
| 8 | Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. NDF | 18 |
| 9 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 17 |
| 10 | Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, M.P. SJB | 17 |
Speeches
1,409 on this topic- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake JJB AI summary Bimal Rathnayake accused the Opposition of undermining Easter Sunday attack prosecutions by describing repurposed state properties used for daily hearings as “jungle courts,” and argued that such venues are intended to clear backlogs and assist victims. He alleged that the Opposition was attempting to equate the Government with past corruption, cited the Mahaiyawa tunnel project and alleged demands for payment under a former Highways Minister, and defended the current Speaker’s integrity. He also said the Government supports free education, respects the armed forces while addressing post-war abuses, and plans transparent use of recovered gold for North and East development funds. Division: Resolution under Public Security Ordinance Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe rejected criticism from the Opposition, asserting that his side had supported Mahinda Rajapaksa during the conflict while accusing Opposition leaders of acting against the country. He argued that the Opposition was misleading the public on education reforms and said the Opposition Leader had admitted they had not opposed stopping the reforms. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri criticized the Government’s continued use of emergency regulations, arguing they were being extended to suppress protests arising from unmet promises, including compensation pledges for damaged houses. He questioned delays and changing compensation amounts, challenged Government claims on education reforms, and defended the Opposition Leader’s assistance to people affected by “Ditva.” He also said the Government should honour all mandate-related promises, including on salaries and vehicles, raised allegations about ruling party MPs’ remuneration arrangements, and complained that parliamentary speaking time favours party leaders while Government MPs failed to object to remarks insulting teachers. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe rejected Opposition claims that the Government was misusing emergency powers, stating that protests had been allowed and that emergency measures were used to manage disaster recovery after widespread landslides. He argued that the economy and district-level development had improved, while accusing the Opposition of communal agitation and inconsistent positions on education reforms, which he said were intended to strengthen state responsibility and expand opportunities for students. He also challenged the Opposition Leader to table observations from visits to shelters and criticized remarks made to Development Officers. Referring to several ongoing corruption and criminal cases involving former political figures, he said prosecutions were proceeding through legal processes without political interference, though public expectations for speed were higher. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Hon. Chanaka Madugoda defended the past use of emergency laws in the context of ending terrorism, while questioning whether the current Government can achieve its objectives under emergency if it has struggled under ordinary law. He welcomed the decision to arrange a teachers’ recruitment examination for Development Officers but raised concerns about the Gazette, including ineligible degree categories, unavailable university specializations, and the exclusion of International Relations, International Studies, and Archaeology graduates. He also requested relief for public officers affected by the suspension of local and foreign leave after they had already made commitments. He further criticized restrictions and omissions in Member development allocations, arguing that they should be usable for genuine local needs such as temples, daham schools, sports clubs, rural societies, and preschools. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB AI summary Sunil Rathnasiri supported extending the Emergency Regulations under the Public Security Ordinance, arguing that they are intended to empower essential services during disaster relief and not to curtail democratic rights. He criticized Opposition actions and allegations, including claims about arrests and disaster assistance, while saying historical abuses of emergency powers explain public suspicion. He also defended the Government’s 2026 education reforms, citing major budget allocations, teacher training, administrative recruitment, and action taken over an error in one curriculum module, including inquiries by education authorities and referral to the CID. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya supported extending the emergency regulations following Cyclone “Ditwah,” citing severe damage to roads, bridges, schools and housing, increased landslide risk, and the need to maintain essential services through an Essential Services Commissioner General. She said a task force chaired by her, with subcommittees and a foreign aid coordination mechanism, had been established to manage recovery and allocate resources. She rejected Opposition claims that the emergency had been used to suppress media, protests, or make certain arrests, and asked for specific evidence. She also stated that education reforms were continuing, with only the Grade 6 subject stream rollout deferred to 2027, and provided progress figures on relief payments to affected children, families of the deceased, and other beneficiaries. Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations (Cyclone Ditwah) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna said a building had initially been identified under the coordinating committee’s charter, but its allocation was opposed by a political group, creating the need to find an alternative. He stated that although another building was identified, it had not yet been secured, and said the Government would consider the specific building raised in the discussion and make a decision on it. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the District Coordinating Committee had decided to identify a school. His remarks were interrupted before further details or proposals were provided. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Raised a brief point stating that his question was asked in the interest of education, amid an interruption. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman argued that smart boards and similar devices are already being used in better-resourced national schools through parental funding, creating educational inequality if the Government does not provide comparable infrastructure to other schools. He asked the Deputy Minister to address the long-standing space shortage at Milad Vidyalaya, the only Tamil-medium Muslim school in the area, noting an earlier verbal promise to provide land or another school had not been fulfilled. He further questioned why approval had not been granted to temporarily use a nearby school, whose priest had consented in writing, while a permanent solution is sought. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that a programme is being implemented with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Digital Economy, and Chinese assistance to provide digital devices to all provincial and national schools. He said this is intended to enable schools to shift to digital methods in the future without placing a burden on schools or parents, but added that digital devices are not required at present and that a digital operating system is being prepared for all schools. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB AI summary Grade 1 instruction under the new curriculum does not require digital boards or devices, while Grade 6 continues under the previous curriculum. The Minister said complaints had been received that some schools were collecting funds for smart boards and devices, and noted that the Prime Minister had clarified that collecting money from Grade 1 students for such equipment was unnecessary. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Hon. Mujibur Rahuman questioned how Grade 1 students in low-income Provincial schools within and around the Colombo Municipal Council area will access the new education reform materials, including QR-code-based modules requiring Internet access, before promised devices are provided from March. He argued that National schools and better-funded schools can rely on parental support for smart boards and connectivity, while poorer schools face an immediate inequity, and asked the Deputy Minister to state the interim arrangements. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Deputy Minister provided figures on schools in the Colombo Educational Zone, stating that it has 21 national schools and 101 provincial schools, with their names tabled in annexes. He reported vacancies of 665 teachers and 164 total non-academic posts in national schools, and 513 vacancies in provincial schools. He also stated that Rs. 490 million has been allocated for national school equipment, inputs, and building works in the Colombo Municipal Council area, while Rs. 443 million was used in 2025 for provincial school building repairs, with further provisions allocated for 2026. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 6 February 2026 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education to provide details on schools within the Colombo Municipal Council area, distinguishing between those administered by the Central Government and the Provincial Council. He requested the names of these schools, current teacher and non-academic staff vacancies by educational zone, and information on measures taken to develop them. Oral Question: Schools in Colombo Municipal Council Area (Q.74/2025) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna — Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education AI summary According to the Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey 2025, there are an estimated 50,786 unemployed graduates, while Cabinet has approved recommendations to fill 105,367 public service vacancies, including 38,571 graduate posts. The Deputy Minister said 5,250 graduates had been recruited by 15 October 2025 and that most approved graduate posts are in the teacher service, with 23,344 teacher vacancies being expedited. He outlined delays to the graduate teacher recruitment examination arising from Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings, noting that new gazettes issued on 2 February 2026 raised the upper age limit to 45 for this occasion and that the exam is planned before the end of February with recruitments to be completed by end March and all recruitments within 2026. He also said the Ministry is consulting the Attorney General and Public Service Commission on cut-off dates, eligibility of education degrees, private degree-granting institutions, and subject-credit requirements for applicants. Adjournment: Adjournment Questions and House Closure Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara asked the Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education for data on unemployed graduates, graduate employment under the Government, Development Officers working as teachers, and plans to absorb them into the teacher service. He cited the NPP policy pledge to provide employment for unemployed graduates and questioned the Government’s recruitment process, particularly a 2026 Gazette requiring qualifications as at 2025.06.30, arguing that the eligibility date and omitted subject areas should be revised to include more graduates. He also requested that appointment letters be issued for about 500 candidates who passed the Education Service Exam and urged broader Government intervention for graduates remaining outside Development Officer or other employment schemes. Adjournment: Adjournment Questions and House Closure Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Hon. Rohana Bandara urged the Government to amend the Gazette for the teachers’ examination to include graduates who completed degrees up to the end of 2025, not only those within the stated date range. He criticised Independence Day messaging and said the armed forces’ role in ending the war and responding to cyclone-related emergencies should be acknowledged. He also called for equal application of the law, specifically requesting that the Speaker step aside temporarily while allegations regarding fuel misuse are investigated. The speech further accused the Government of inconsistency, deal-making politics, and racially framed rhetoric, while urging responsible governance under its parliamentary majority. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan supported the Bills to license container depot operators and regulate shipping agents, freight forwarders, NVOCCs and container operators, stating that they would streamline the sector. He welcomed the Minister’s response on the Mannar–Puttalam road, clarifying that the court matter was a settlement rather than a judgment barring use, and urged cooperation to reopen and develop it as a main highway. He also endorsed the President’s Independence Day call to acknowledge past errors and correct them, and requested a special Cabinet paper to grant permanent appointments to 253 volunteer teachers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces who had served in difficult post-war conditions. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →