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- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel said the Hill Country community’s loss of citizenship and franchise after independence had led to decades of exclusion in education, land, housing, wages and political representation. She argued that the National People’s Power Government had begun addressing these issues since 2024, citing increased representation of Hill Country women, progress on land and housing rights, salary issues, road development, an e-library, a mini-government service centre, and planned vocational training. She said further shortcomings remain but maintained that the Government has laid the foundation for integrating the Hill Country community into the national mainstream and ensuring a dignified life. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that parliamentary scheduling would return to normal to avoid clashes with religious observances. She said all children of Aswesuma beneficiaries receive stationery allowances, and that a pilot programme to provide locally manufactured shoes would run in two provinces in 2026, with possible expansion if successful and cost-effective. She added that Grade 5 Scholarship beneficiaries would be eligible for shoe vouchers from 2026, with the Government aiming to better identify and expand support for children in need. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan questioned the scheduling of examinations during Ramadan, saying they should have been advanced by 10 days to finish by the 17th in view of fasting and night prayers. He urged future consultation with the relevant religious affairs divisions to avoid clashes with religious observances. He also requested that shoe vouchers and the Rs. 6,000 learning materials allowance be provided to difficult and most difficult area schools regardless of whether they have more or fewer than 200 students. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Several welfare programmes for schoolchildren are in place, including textbooks, uniforms, Suraksha insurance, sanitary pad vouchers, midday meals, and targeted vouchers, with Rs. 57.2 billion allocated in 2025 and beneficiary data being improved. The 2025 GCE Ordinary Level Examination will be held from 17 to 26 February 2026 despite overlapping with Ramadan, following consultations with Eastern Province education officials, ACJU representatives, and the Examinations Department. The Minister stated that postponement would disrupt the return to the regular examination calendar, under which Grade 5 Scholarship and A/L examinations are to be held in August and O/L examinations in December from 2026 onward. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary The Hon. Sajith Premadasa questioned the decision to close an entire Faculty due to identified deficiencies. He argued that any shortcomings should be addressed directly rather than disrupting the whole Faculty, and sought clarification on the rationale for the closure. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary The Secretary to the Ministry of Education has instructed schools or institutions not to collect the funds in question. Addressing the Wickramarachchi Faculty decision, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said the action was based on a UGC-appointed committee report identifying violations of UGC procedures in launching programmes, and argued that corrective steps are necessary where such violations have caused injustice to students. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a matter under Standing Order 27(2), stressing that ministerial answers must be accurate, and tabled a UGC letter concerning the closure of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at Gampaha Wickramarachchi University. He also asked whether the Minister would issue a circular to all school principals directing them not to collect money from parents for smart boards. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said corrective action is being taken at Gampaha Wickramarachchi University following a UGC-appointed expert committee report, after programmes had been opened without proper approvals and students were left vulnerable, stressing that the process is not political. She stated that around 1,500 smart boards are being distributed this year to secondary schools under a circular, and that parents should not be asked to contribute money for them. She also said curriculum decisions are made by experts, with technology introduced in Grades 1–5 in an age-appropriate, integrated manner rather than as a separate ICT subject. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya welcomed the Leader of the Opposition’s stated support for free education, while noting it differed from the position of his former political tradition. She said many issues raised were outside the scope of the Question and requested that questions not be based on social media claims. She stated that there was no decision to curtail free education or to close the Faculty of Dental Sciences at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa — Leader of the Opposition AI summary Sajith Premadasa questioned the Government’s delayed and incomplete response to concerns on university vacancies, school closures, and education sector policy. He said teacher demands promised by the Government remain unmet, alleged that schools are collecting money from parents for digital equipment, and urged the Ministry to provide such resources to protect free education. He also called for digital education to begin from Grade 1, preferably in English medium, and sought clarification on reports of planned closures or removals involving Gampaha Wickramarachchi University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Dental Sciences Faculty at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya — Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education AI summary The Prime Minister tabled detailed annexes on university staffing and stated that Cabinet approval has been granted to fill 1,209 academic vacancies, alongside salary increases for university academics and new Budget 2026 allocations for higher education infrastructure projects. She said there is no programme to close schools, but a proposal to upgrade one school per education division for quality primary education. She clarified that History remains compulsory from Grades 6 to 11 and that Aesthetics is included from primary level and compulsory at higher grades. She also outlined steps on teacher service reforms, difficult-school allowances, and graduate teacher recruitment following related court decisions and the issuance of a Gazette for existing vacancies. Ministry Statements: University Vacancies and Educational Opportunities Read →
- 5 February 2026 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna) SJB AI summary A question was raised regarding recruitment to Grade III of the Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service through the 2020/2021 examination. The inquiry sought details on the appointments made or pending under that recruitment process and the steps being taken to address any delays or related administrative issues. Oral Question: SLEAS Recruitment, Road Development, and Standing Order 27(2) Questions Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir AI summary Approved the regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act while urging that expanded telecommunications infrastructure, including additional towers, prioritize rural, fishing and farming areas where poor signal affects education, livelihoods and economic activity. Raised the protest by development officers and asked the Government to address their grievances by filling subject-based teacher vacancies, especially in science, commerce, IT and English, with qualified officers already teaching in schools. Also tabled a document on coastal erosion affecting Dutch Bay and Kirimundalama in Kalpitiya, including damage to churches, and requested Government solutions for those communities. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe supported the telecommunications regulations aimed at strengthening spectrum management and digital services, but focused mainly on demands to regularize Development Officers serving in schools as teachers, noting their ongoing hunger strike and the scale of teacher vacancies, especially in the Eastern Province. He urged the Government and Prime Minister to fill those vacancies and proceed through interviews to absorb the officers into the Teachers’ Service. He also defended the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress as a democratic Opposition party and called on the Government to appoint a Muslim Cabinet Minister, arguing this would reflect the support received from Muslim voters and demonstrate a non-communal approach. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam JJB AI summary Hon. M.K.M. Aslam supported the regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, arguing that they are necessary to modernize communications infrastructure, support education reforms and economic recovery, and ensure reliable services in underserved areas. He said tower-sharing regulations would reduce duplication and costs, improve competition, lower tariffs, and allow the TRC to monitor operators and service quality, noting plans for additional towers and projected TRC revenue and expenditure changes. He also criticized Opposition parties for raising unrelated and ethnic issues during the debate, and defended development activities in the North, East, and hill country as necessary to meet basic needs and promote national unity. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth raised several constituency and administrative issues, including changing Pothuvil’s telephone code from 063 to 067, establishing passport services in Ampara, enabling divisional-level medicals for driving licence renewals, expanding the Ampara Land Registry, and improving postal and local government staffing and facilities. He urged the Government to regularize Development Officers serving as teachers, confirm acting principals, revise principal allowances and salary structures, and extend benefits to deputy and assistant principals. He called for immediate presidential intervention to stop proposed ilmenite sand mining by Capital Metals PLC along the East Coast, citing public opposition and risks to the environment, livelihoods, fisheries, coastal stability, and tourism in areas including Arugam Bay. He also proposed a provincial residential school for children with special needs and a dairy processing factory in Pothuvil to create employment. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised concerns over the treatment of teacher development officers, noting their long service in schools and arguing that removing 12,000 of them would worsen the existing teacher shortage. She urged the Government to absorb them into the teaching service, welcomed the absorption of some monk development officers, and called on the Government Chief Whip to withdraw remarks she said insulted teachers. She also alleged poor planning in coal procurement for Norochcholai, warning that delayed tenders and emergency purchases could lead to high costs, low-quality supplies, and corruption similar to past emergency power-sector procurements. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe sought to correct an inaccurate statement concerning teacher recruitment. His remarks were interrupted before further details or proposals were recorded. Debate: Regulations under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act (continued) Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister stated that the Government is inspecting and assessing schools to identify needs and prepare plans, while also providing temporary solutions where necessary. She asked the Member to provide specific details so she could inquire into the matters raised and take appropriate action. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Read →
- 3 February 2026 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem raised urgent education infrastructure issues in the Gampola Zone, citing closed schools and unsafe or inadequate temporary arrangements, including Paragala School and Al-Hikma Muslim School facing a landslide threat. He asked the Government to engage UNICEF to expedite tendering and construction of temporary classrooms, and to have provincial education authorities approve donor-funded temporary structures for Al-Mina School during the Ramadan closure. He also requested a discussion with relevant provincial officers to address problems affecting Muslim, Sinhala and Tamil schools, and argued that holding Provincial Council elections would allow such matters to be resolved at the provincial level. Oral Questions and Ministerial Answers Read →