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- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy JJB AI summary Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy supported the Committee Stage debate on the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, praising the Minister’s reform agenda and increased education allocations, including funding for skills development. He argued that education reform must address discipline, drug use among students, demographic changes affecting Grade 1 admissions, and declining language and reading proficiency, especially in the North, East and estate sectors. He called for stronger planning, improved curriculum implementation, and additional transport and facilities for war-affected and economically disadvantaged regions to ensure equal access to education. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Commending the 2026 Budget allocation for education and planned reforms, he highlighted acute teacher shortages in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya and asked for clarity on appointments through a district quota system. He urged the resumption or completion of suspended school building projects under the TFR and Resettlement Unit, requested that the increased Rs. 10,000 Mahapola allowance be extended to children of public servants, and sought an Administrative Service Grade principal for Siyambalagaskotuwa Madina National School. He also raised concerns that extended school hours under proposed reforms could adversely affect disadvantaged and Muslim students, calling for further consultation before implementation. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera criticized the Government’s proposed education reforms, arguing that they lack detailed documentation, prior study, implementation clarity, and alignment with Sri Lanka’s cultural and historical context. He said the reforms do not address the aspirations of younger generations for entrepreneurship, creativity, independence, and self-directed learning, and risk producing compliance-oriented students instead. He called for a fair dialogue on genuine education reform, focusing on fixing existing deficiencies in schools and universities rather than adopting what he described as unsuitable foreign models. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera urged the Education Ministry to reconsider circulars that prevent private individuals and alumni from entering schools to support development projects, citing his own contributions to schools in Galle and other areas. He said restrictions have forced donations, such as musical instruments, to be handed over through Sunday schools instead of schools, and argued that such social service should be facilitated. He affirmed support for free education and called for a forward-looking roadmap in the Ministry’s estimates and reforms rather than focusing on past shortcomings. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Nalin Hewage - Deputy Minister of Vocational Education JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage argued that the Government has prioritised education in the 2026 Budget despite inheriting longstanding problems such as teacher shortages, inadequate facilities, and closed schools. He cited official figures to state that education allocations have risen from Rs. 534 billion in 2024 to Rs. 704 billion in 2026, and that education spending as a share of GDP is being increased gradually towards the stated 6% target. He rejected Opposition criticism by comparing past governments’ lower GDP allocations and underutilisation of capital funds, asserting that current policy is focused on improving human capital as a basis for economic development. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam urged urgent action to fill all 329 non-academic staff vacancies at the University of Jaffna and revise its outdated cadre, noting expanded faculties and reliance on costly private services. He called for education to be prioritized through higher budget allocations and teacher salary revisions in line with the Subodhini Commission, citing specific shortfalls in proposed pay increases. He also questioned whether education reforms opposed under the previous Government were now being pursued to secure ADB funding without stakeholder consultation. He requested reconsideration of extended school hours or provision of food, revision of criteria for difficult schools in the North and East, and an increase in inadequate difficult-area teacher allowances. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth urged expanded higher education access in Pottuvil, including an Open University regional study centre and locating the South Eastern University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Faculty there to support tourism-linked education around Arugam Bay. He called for a separate Pottuvil Zonal Education Office, arguing that current ethnic and geographic division of nearby schools among three zones creates long travel distances and weakens supervision and services. He also requested facilities and staffing support for Pottuvil Central College, including a teachers’ hostel, modern auditorium, non-academic staff, and permanent security personnel. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation JJB AI summary Hon. Anura Karunathilaka clarified that the former North Colombo Private Medical College was integrated into the state university system as the Ragama Medical Faculty, before addressing education sector reforms and Budget support for 2026. He argued that Sri Lanka’s education system is exam-centred, unevenly resourced, insufficiently aligned with employability, innovation and lifelong learning, and constrained by limited access to advanced secondary education, STEM facilities and university entry. He said the tuition problem cannot be solved by law alone, and that reforms must combine curriculum change with teacher development, professionalization, infrastructure, administration, assessment reform and public awareness. He outlined proposed changes for Grades 6–11, including entrepreneurship and financial literacy, transversal skills, Grade 9 proficiency assessments, and advanced pathway modules in senior secondary education. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Hon. Mano Ganesan urged the Government to reform the school system to promote national reconciliation by moving away from segregated religious and ethnic schooling and ensuring Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim children study together. He asked the Prime Minister and Education Minister to examine the reduction of Tamil-medium classes in Colombo national schools such as Royal, D. S. Senanayake and Isipathana, and to allocate classes proportionately given Colombo’s Tamil-speaking population. He also called for affirmative attention to plantation and other marginalized schools, noting their late integration into the national education system and the impact of non-functioning Provincial Councils on education administration. He proposed appointing language-appropriate Additional Directors at provincial and zonal levels, including Tamil-speaking education officers in areas such as Nuwara Eliya, to address student, teacher and administrative issues in the relevant medium. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya said the education reforms aim to identify and address inequalities so that all children can access quality education without discrimination. Responding to Hon. Mano Ganesan, she stated that reconciliation-related themes would be incorporated into the core curriculum through transversal skills modules intended to provide common civic knowledge and experiences for all students. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan addressed the Prime Minister in her capacity as Minister of Education, welcoming the focus on education reforms but asking where the reform programme specifically addresses national reconciliation. He also asked what attention is being given to underprivileged groups, noting that he had raised both issues in the relevant Subcommittee. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Batticaloa, including awarding marks without proper examinations, lack of regulation, malpractice, and student harassment. He noted that Prof. Yuvaraj Thangarajah had submitted a letter to the Prime Minister on the matter and requested that an inquiry be conducted. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim cited a British Council survey indicating that Sri Lanka is among the highest sources of foreign students to the UK, ranking second in the referenced list despite its small population compared with China. He argued that this reflects the consequences of wrong policy decisions in Sri Lanka. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim questioned why the Government, despite promises to break “mafias” and monopolies, has not addressed or regulated the tuition industry, which he said earns about Rs. 160 billion annually and places heavy financial pressure on poor parents and children. He asked whether the Government would introduce regulations, tax enforcement, or reforms to protect free education, and criticized the absence of such measures in two Budgets. He cited provincial circulars restricting teachers from conducting tuition, including one allegedly annulled by a State Minister, as evidence of inconsistent policy and urged action against the sector’s influence. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that ongoing curriculum work is based on the 2022 charter submitted by the National Education Commission. She said the Government is proceeding by building on that framework while incorporating its own proposals. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Kabir Hashim highlighted persistent problems in education and higher education, warning that politically difficult decisions could have national consequences if delayed. He asked why the Government is not using the 2022 National Education Commission report, prepared under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as a neutral framework for national education policy and reforms. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Kabir Hashim SJB AI summary Hon. Kabir Hashim said education and higher education are central to national development and social discipline, noting that the Education Ministry has historically been difficult to manage. He argued that Sri Lanka’s cultural, religious and educational foundations helped limit the effects of recent political upheavals, but warned of rising indiscipline among school and university students, including challenges to teachers and principals, unrest in schools, defiance of university directives, and hazing. He urged that these trends be treated as serious social challenges requiring attention. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage - Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary Hon. Upali Pannilage said the Government’s education policy treats education as a social welfare investment and prioritizes equitable access, with the 2026 Budget allocating about Rs. 708 billion, the highest allocation to date, though the 6 per cent of GDP target would be reached progressively. He outlined measures on higher education quality, international scholarships, hostel development, research funding, increased Mahapola and bursary payments, expanded access and allowances for students with disabilities, and school support for low-income children. He also noted ongoing recruitment to fill university academic vacancies and said broader reforms aim to develop human capital and prepare society for the 21st century. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB AI summary Hon. Waruna Liyanage raised education and vocational training issues affecting Ratnapura and plantation communities, including concerns over closing schools with fewer than 50 students where transport access is limited despite proposed free buses. He requested measures to protect Grade 1 admissions for families without land deeds due to LRC disputes, light regulation of international schools, fee waivers for VTA students in low-income districts, Cabinet approval to recruit 53 over-age VTA candidates affected by delays, and higher NAITA trainee allowances. He also called for an A/L Tamil-medium stream in Ratnapura and a Tamil administrative structure with a Tamil Director in Sabaragamuwa. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →
- 25 November 2025 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen supported education reforms aimed at improving graduate employability and reducing reliance on government jobs, while urging consultation with teacher unions. He requested action on a separate education zone for Kuchchaveli, completion of stalled school buildings including Vavuniya Muslim National School, and urgent use of Northern Provincial allocations before funds lapse. He highlighted teacher shortages in war-affected and remote districts, proposing district-based teacher deployment and coordinated transport schemes for teachers and students. He also asked for regulation of Colombo school van services and strict controls on school-based parental fund collections to reduce burdens on families. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Read →