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- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah supported the proposed education reforms and commended the Prime Minister for pursuing them, arguing that Sri Lanka’s school and university syllabi are outdated and should be modernized without delay. He said objections were limited to sexuality and same-sex content on religious and cultural grounds, and urged removal or revision of those lessons rather than postponement of the entire reform. He also called for expanded higher education access through regulated non-State universities, with national policy, strict accreditation, foreign and public-private partnerships, student protections, scholarships, and stakeholder consultation to safeguard quality. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra supported the adjournment motion on education reform, arguing that reform is needed to expand access for rural and low-income children to teachers, updated curricula, science and technology subjects, vocational education, English, skills and soft skills. She said current education burdens families, contributes to stress and exclusion, and fails to address educated unemployment, while the Ministry’s Concept Note provides a basis for structured debate. She also condemned Opposition rhetoric directed at the Prime Minister, particularly gendered and personal attacks, and challenged the Opposition to table its proposed no-confidence motion if it intends to proceed. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Imran Maharoof SJB AI summary Hon. Imran Maharoof said the Opposition supports education reform in principle but argued that the current reform process lacks clarity, consultation, and public confidence. He criticized the Government for focusing on political attacks rather than explaining the reform’s substance, and called for meaningful engagement with education experts and parliamentary committees. He raised concerns about inadequate infrastructure for technology-based education, including smart classrooms, devices, and facilities in districts such as Trincomalee. He urged cross-party cooperation to revise the reform, address its deficiencies, and implement a credible education plan. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 Hon. Mylvaganam Jegadeeswaran JJB AI summary Hon. Mylvaganam Jegadeeswaran condemned disparaging and vulgar remarks directed at women MPs, particularly Prime Minister and Education Minister Hon. Harini Amarasuriya, and urged Members to avoid degrading language in Parliament. He said education in the Northern Province has been seriously affected by improper teacher transfers for 2025 and 2026, with districts such as Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya losing many teachers without replacements, leaving Advanced Level students without subject teachers. He proposed reforming the transfer policy and applying district-based cut-off marks in graduate teacher recruitment so teachers are appointed to vacancies within their own districts, especially in war-affected areas with resource shortages. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB AI summary Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran supported the proposed education reforms, emphasizing the introduction of vocational education pathways from Grade 9 to address the large number of students who leave school without passing the G.C.E. O/L or gaining employable skills. He said vocational labs in schools would help students secure better future opportunities, while acknowledging that implementation shortcomings should be identified and corrected constructively. He criticized the Opposition for focusing on isolated issues, including an error in the Grade 6 English module, and argued that such criticism had created unnecessary confusion among parents and students. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe criticized the Government’s reversal of Grade 6 curriculum reforms, alleging inadequate consultation, poor module preparation, and a loss of over Rs. 800 million on printed books to be withdrawn. He questioned the suitability of certain content for schoolchildren, called for accountability from the Education Minister, and argued that budget reductions in education undermine reform implementation. He also listed several policy reversals by the Government, contending that decisions are being changed in response to public or social media pressure rather than through consistent governance. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Najith Indika JJB AI summary Hon. Najith Indika supported the Government’s decision to allow more time for discussion on education reforms, arguing that doubts should be addressed so the reforms can proceed with broader public confidence. He said investigations are under way into the English module web-link issue and tabled documents to reject Opposition claims about the Dharma Chakra depiction and other textbook content. He criticized the SJB’s approach as shifting from substantive debate to allegations about religion, sexuality and attacks on the Prime Minister/Education Minister, and challenged them to proceed with any no-confidence motion. He stated that the Government remains committed to developing human and physical resources through reforms aimed at producing rational, evidence-based citizens. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Amila Prasad SJB AI summary Hon. Amila Prasad argued that proposed education reforms are being implemented hastily and should be assessed by whether they strengthen national harmony, preserve History as a compulsory subject, improve access to higher education, and reduce reliance on tuition. He questioned the suitability of module-based assessment for some subjects, raised concerns about textbooks, teacher training, science-stream access, BEd and pirivena issues, examination delays, and result formats needed for foreign university admission. He called for reforms that expand university pathways beyond the small share entering State universities, improve school resources, support additional language learning, and avoid portraying critics as opponents of free education. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply JJB AI summary Dr. Susil Ranasinghe defended the Government’s education reforms, arguing that opposition parties were using protests, audit references, and claims about Grade 6 Civic Education materials to create fear among parents rather than engaging with the substance of the reforms. He said the reforms are needed to reduce the pressure of an exam-centric system, improve learning methods, infrastructure and human resources, and support broader skills development. He also challenged the Opposition to proceed with threatened no-confidence motions, including against the Prime Minister, and said the Government would continue explaining and implementing the reform programme. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri cited an Auditor General communication to the National Institute of Education alleging failures in preparing Grade 1 and Grade 6 curriculum modules, including inconsistent module counts, lack of central coordination, missing technical verification, approvals, and ISBNs, linking these to errors in textbooks. He accused the Government of dismissing opposition claims as false while delaying corrective action, and questioned why related education reform matters were being debated while the Prime Minister and Education Minister was overseas. He said the Opposition was not against education reform but opposed using reforms, textbooks, or online materials to advance political agendas or introduce content he argued was culturally and religiously inappropriate for schoolchildren. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka JJB AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka said the Ministry should investigate schools that had asked parents to purchase smart boards without official instruction and take action against responsible principals. He defended the inclusion of ICT and education reforms despite infrastructure gaps, noting that ICT textbooks date back to 2015 and that funds have been allocated to provide smart boards to about 1,600 schools by March, with the aim of supplying at least one digital device to every school. He rejected claims that the reforms would depart from Commonwealth standards, stating that 13 years of schooling, O/L and A/L national examinations, and the Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework would remain intact. He said the reforms reflect National People’s Power policy, including grade restructuring, a Grade 9 skills test, and stronger links between general and vocational education for students leaving school without qualifications. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB AI summary The Minister defended the current education reforms as a long-discussed, transformative effort to strengthen public education, contrasting them with earlier proposals he said promoted privatization and shifted costs to parents. He rejected claims that the reforms lack substance, citing the Ministry’s published trilingual document setting out objectives and components, and emphasized national goals including cultural heritage, unity, and learner development. He acknowledged errors in two pages of an English module and said they must be corrected with disciplinary action where appropriate, but argued this should not be used to discredit the entire reform process. He said implementation must proceed alongside infrastructure and human resource improvements, noting a Rs. 17 billion allocation and the need to move beyond exam-centred rote learning. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara said the Opposition had cooperated on education reforms but questioned the legitimacy of the 2024–2025 proposals, claiming earlier 2020–2024 reform documents lacked the Prime Minister’s signature. He alleged Rs. 483 million had been wasted at the National Institute of Education and called for an examination of those involved. He also criticized the President’s remarks in Jaffna in relation to Buddhism and northern issues, and demanded that Hon. Sritharan resign from the Constitutional Council, alleging he had supported Government appointments while representing small Opposition parties and faced conflict-of-interest and corruption-related allegations. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development JJB AI summary Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe defended the Government’s education reforms, arguing that the Opposition was spreading misinformation by linking curriculum changes to religion, sexuality and other political claims. He said starting ICT at Grade 6 was consistent with Sri Lanka’s educational structure, infrastructure limitations and international practice, and noted that primary education should focus on literacy, numeracy and languages. He also said the Government was addressing teacher recruitment, infrastructure and pension entitlements, while investigating whether alleged problematic curriculum material was an isolated lapse or politically motivated. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Chanaka Madugoda SLPP AI summary Chanaka Madugoda said the SLPP supports the need for reforms but wants the deferred reform package strengthened and presented with broader consensus. He alleged procedural irregularities in a Ministry of Defence tender for dry rations for the Tri-Forces, claiming the lowest bidder was removed in favour of higher bidders despite procurement committee findings, and urged authorities to stop the agreement while tabling related documents. He also requested action on delayed state-to-state employment arrangements for Sri Lankans seeking agricultural and other jobs in Israel, and asked that 60 pupils from Elpitiya Saranankara Primary School be admitted to Elpitiya Ananda Vidyalaya under the existing cluster school arrangement. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe argued that Sri Lanka requires a comprehensive education transformation, not merely curriculum changes, citing the need to develop practical skills, critical thinking and global competitiveness. He outlined key features of the proposed reforms, including five pillars, transversal skills, new skills-oriented upper secondary pathways, and a National Skills Assessment at Grade 9 to identify student aptitudes beyond rote learning. He said the Government had accepted some concerns, including those raised by trade unions, and decided at Cabinet on 12 January to defer Grade 6 curriculum changes to the following year. He rejected Opposition allegations about “vulgarization” and other claims related to the reforms, asserting that similar textbook content had existed since 2015, and said the Government would continue with the reform agenda despite criticism. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan supported education reforms but urged that they be undertaken carefully to avoid repeating past discriminatory or flawed policies affecting Tamil-medium students. He called for equal opportunities for Sinhala- and Tamil-medium learners, greater engagement of qualified Tamil-speaking academics and Hindu scholarly institutions in curriculum and religious content, and stronger proofreading and review of Tamil-medium textbooks. He also proposed government responsibility for preschool teacher training and supervision, and emphasized science, technology, research, ICT, mathematics, and vocational education, particularly in disadvantaged and estate-sector schools, to improve employability and develop knowledge, attitudes, skills and practice. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister argued that the proposed education reforms are the result of long-standing discussions rather than a new NPP initiative, and said reforms are necessary to reduce pressure on children, address school disparities, and expand equitable access to subjects such as science for rural students. He criticized past governments and the Opposition for failing to improve education over decades while now questioning school facilities and reform preparedness, noting that concept papers had been publicized and MPs briefed. Citing rising school dropout figures from 2019 to 2024, he said implementation should proceed while identifying and correcting shortcomings, with government responsibility for improving infrastructure, technology access, and fair opportunities for all children. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi criticized the Government’s handling of proposed education reforms, alleging they were advanced for political purposes rather than children’s needs and without adequate consultation with the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education. He said prior committee processes could have identified issues such as the “Grade 6 error,” and urged the Government not to mislead the public. He stated that the Opposition would support further work in the committee to develop non-partisan education policy. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →
- 22 January 2026 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi said education reform is necessary but must be carried out transparently, with expert input and proper public awareness, noting that even the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee had not been briefed. He questioned the Government’s handling of the Grade 6 English module controversy, alleging that the inclusion of an inappropriate website reference was not accidental and urging that it not be dismissed as a minor error. He also linked the need for reform to structural problems in access to science and mathematics education, graduate unemployment and skills mismatches, while warning against reforms that could harm children’s education and public trust. Adjournment Debate: Comprehensive Educational Transformation Process Read →