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- 23 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana argued that the Bill’s provisions on university appointments and removals could increase political influence through Councils and Vice Chancellors, and urged safeguards for a depoliticized university system. He criticized recent education policy reversals, questioned UGC limits on recognition of new programmes by degree-awarding institutions, and said these restrictions reduce higher education opportunities and increase foreign exchange outflows. He also demanded accountability over the Grade 6 textbook controversy, asked whether the interim report had been tabled in Parliament, and questioned the use of Penal Code processes if the issue was minor. He further raised concerns about readiness for Grade 1 and education reforms, citing inadequate digital infrastructure, limited textbook printing and teacher training, and questioned phone-based school initiatives in light of international restrictions on phones and social media for children. Debate: Universities (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB AI summary Moving the Universities (Amendment) Bill for second reading on behalf of the Education Minister, the Minister said it seeks to improve university governance by introducing seniority-based procedures and term limits for Heads of Departments and by requiring removals to follow Council action on the Vice Chancellor’s recommendation under UGC-prescribed due process. He said the Bill would broaden eligibility for Deans beyond serving Heads of Departments to senior academic staff within faculties, with safeguards to protect Faculty Board primacy in removals. He cited consultations following the 2012 FUTA action and recent feedback from FUTA and academics as supporting the general direction of reforms to make university leadership more transparent, democratic, and accountable. Debate: Universities (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna stated that school rationalization is based on standardized cluster-level criteria, including access, transport, population density and divisional and district committee decisions, rather than student numbers alone. He said selected cluster schools will be developed with full facilities, including sports grounds, infrastructure and A/L streams, to serve surrounding students. He also clarified that smart boards are not mandatory under the modular system, that schools should not collect funds for them, and that the Government has allocated funds to network about 6,000 schools and provide smart classroom facilities. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB AI summary Hon. B. Ariyawansha raised concerns about potential closures of small rural schools, noting that more than 70 schools in Ratnapura District have fewer than 50 students and that parents already face difficulties sending children even to nearby village schools. He asked what measures would be taken if such schools were closed and called for action to develop these schools. He also questioned reports that parents are being asked to raise funds for smart boards in schools such as Konketuwa Primary, Panamura and Pulliyadiyar, and asked what steps would be taken to stop such fundraising. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB AI summary Projects are being implemented across both centrally administered national schools and schools called national schools under Provincial Councils. A data system is being managed with the Digital Ministry and the Advisory Committee on Digital Economy to assess physical and human resources nationwide, address uneven distribution, and support data-driven budgeting and prioritization, including for Ratnapura. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB AI summary Hon. B. Ariyawansha raised concerns about disparities between well-equipped national schools in urban areas and under-resourced rural national schools, citing Kolonna National School and Embilipitiya National School as examples. He asked how the Government intends to urgently address facility deficiencies in rural national schools to meet parents’ demand for quality education. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna, replying on behalf of the Prime Minister and Education Minister, stated that 84 projects were implemented in Ratnapura District under the “Nearest School - The Best School” programme, with detailed reports placed in the Library. He said no development projects had been halted, and that only two Provincial Council projects in provincial schools remained ongoing, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB AI summary Hon. B. Ariyawansha asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education for details on the “Nearest School - The Best School” programme in the Ratnapura District. He sought information on the number of projects implemented, how many have been halted, and what measures will be taken to restart the halted projects. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep JJB AI summary While welcoming training and cultural facilities, the speech notes that previous operations were slow and that many trainees had difficulty finding suitable employment locally or abroad. It states that the Government will seek to place trainees from the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre in government service where possible and connect them with foreign employment opportunities. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel raised concerns that certificates issued through the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre and Hatton Norwood Stadium are often from unrecognized bodies and that institutional activities are limited. She asked whether NVQ certificates awarded there will be officially recognized by the Government and what employment prospects upcountry youth can expect from them. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 23 January 2026 The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure JJB AI summary On behalf of the Minister, the Deputy Minister stated that final accounts for 2022–2024 are incomplete, while 2020–2021 accounts show income of Rs. 192.27 million and expenditure of Rs. 168.43 million, including spending on the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre, Sports Complex, and Cultural Centre. He said Board meetings scheduled in July and September 2025 were not held due to lack of quorum, and 2025 income figures are still being prepared. He outlined the current NVQ courses at the Hatton Thondaman Vocational Training Centre, noted 219 students were enrolled in 2025, and described planned income generation from Norwood Stadium bookings, matches and parking, along with upcoming certification and trainee recruitment activities. Oral Questions: Heda Oya Irrigation, Thondaman Foundation, Schools, Hydropower, Sugar Factories, Ragama Town, Monaragala Lands, Badulla Cooperatives Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Madhura Senevirathna argued that the current education reforms are a historically significant structural transformation, comparable to the Kannangara reforms of 1943, and are based on equity, equal access, sustainability, lifelong learning, and innovation. He said the reforms respond to long-standing concerns including examination pressure, textbook burdens, rural-urban disparities, unequal access, tuition culture, and competition, and are guided by policy work developed since 2018 and updated in 2024. He welcomed public discussion and constructive criticism but urged that education policy not be politicized, referring to recent controversy over a Grade 6 English module as an example of harmful political agitation. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna criticized shortcomings at the National Institute of Education, arguing that education reforms require trained personnel, filled vacancies, updated expertise, and exposure to international practices. She said the disputed module is only one small part of wider reforms covering curriculum, human resources, infrastructure and administration, assessment, and public awareness, and objected to what she described as inaccurate public claims about the use of the word “buddy” and related website references. She questioned the process used to select module writers and resource persons, saying it should have involved a systematic national search, proper training, proofreading, editorial and academic review, and adherence to an education policy framework. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna said the Opposition supports education reforms if they are transparent, consultative, and led by experts, but argued that the Government failed to publish key documents such as a White Paper, concept papers, modules, aims, and implementation pathways. She alleged that the National Education Commission and reform process had been politicized through appointments of government allies, and that the Ministry had bypassed the National Institute of Education, undermining implementation. She also stated that the current reforms build on earlier proposals by officials such as Upali Sedere and Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, but had since been altered through processes that should be further scrutinized. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and Leader of the House of Parliament AI summary Bimal Rathnayake defended the Government’s education reforms, saying they stem from a long NPP policy process, public mandate, and work by education institutions, and that the Government is obliged to implement them while correcting practical errors. He acknowledged shortcomings in the Grade 6 module and said disciplinary and oversight action had begun, but argued that this should not justify halting the wider reform programme. He said Cabinet paused only the Grade 6 component due to parental anxiety and agitation, which he attributed to Opposition and media campaigns, while rejecting claims that the reforms are World Bank-funded, require paid textbooks, or impose paid QR-code access. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Urged that reforms be implemented equitably so they benefit students across all regions. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Dr. Elayathamby Srinath supported education reform but argued that implementation must first address infrastructure gaps, teacher shortages, and unequal resources, particularly in rural, hardship, and war-affected schools in the North and East. He said reforms should reduce student stress, align school and tertiary education with labour-market needs, and help graduates find employment locally and abroad. He called for clear regional implementation plans and the meaningful inclusion of Tamil history, traditions, and equal representation in curricula to ensure reforms benefit every child. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Nalin Hewage – Deputy Minister of Vocational Education AI summary Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage defended the Government’s education reforms, arguing they are overdue and necessary to reduce burdens on children and parents and to produce more creative and capable students. He accused the Opposition of creating public doubt, using religion-related claims such as the Dharmachakra issue, and threatening a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister to obstruct the reform process. He said syllabus revision was due after the 2015 changes and that any minor errors should be corrected while proceeding, adding that education spending had risen from 1.8 per cent to 2.04 per cent of GDP under the Government. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir AI summary Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir supported education reform in principle but urged the Government to correct errors in the Grade 6 component during its one-year postponement and to base reforms on consultation with parents, students, teachers, principals, education officials and specialists. He highlighted around 500 teacher vacancies in the Puttalam Education Zone, shortages in key subjects, inadequate resources in schools serving displaced Northern Province families, and broader infrastructure needs. He requested that the Puttalam Education Zone be divided into two zones aligned with Kalpitiya and Madurankuliya, and tabled a letter to that effect. He also acknowledged the Prime Minister’s visit to Puttalam and called for a non-partisan approach to implementing reforms for all students. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip AI summary Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa defended the Government’s Grade 6 education reforms, arguing that Opposition parties publicly protested against the modules while claiming in Parliament not to oppose reform. He accused Opposition figures of spreading misinformation, including allegations about sexuality, religious symbols, and the Dhamma Chakra, and said these claims were intended to provoke public and religious sentiment. He urged parents to support the modules, which he said aim to build 21st-century skills such as technology, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and ICT, while allowing genuine errors to be corrected. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →