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- 17 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Gunawardana JJB AI summary Dr. Jagath Gunawardana supported the regulations under the Convention against Doping in Sport Act, No. 33 of 2013, stating that they are needed to protect fair competition, clean sport, and Sri Lanka’s sporting reputation. He highlighted the rising use of banned substances, including among school athletes, and noted that SLADA conducts awareness programmes for athletes, coaches, and teachers. He said Sri Lanka currently relies on urine testing but plans to introduce blood testing as well, and called for stronger deterrence, border controls on prohibited stimulants, and implementation of the 2025 prohibited list gazetted in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar – Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources AI summary The Minister supported the regulations under the Anti-Doping Convention, emphasizing the need to prevent stimulant and illegal drug use in sport while strengthening youth participation and national representation. He said the Government is giving particular attention to sports development in the North and East, citing athletes from Jaffna and Mullaitivu and plans for an international cricket ground, an indoor arena, and a training centre in Jaffna. He also stated that the Government intends to host an international sports event in Jaffna within its term and framed these initiatives as part of a people-centred approach beyond ethnic or sectarian politics. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Nilanthi Kottahachchi supported giving domestic effect to WADA’s annually updated prohibited substances and methods list, arguing that anti-doping regulation is necessary to protect fair competition and the futures of young athletes. She cited international and Sri Lankan examples of doping-related sanctions and called for awareness and testing to extend to schools, alongside equal opportunities for rural and under-resourced athletes. She also referred to government initiatives including an all-island clean sport programme, planned sports schools in five provinces, doubled stipends for sports school students, and efforts to attract investment into sports infrastructure. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage JJB AI summary Hon. Lasith Bhashana Gamage argued that sports, alongside education and the arts, should be used to build national unity, ethical leadership, discipline, and better physical and mental health. Referring to doping regulations, he said athletes may use banned substances knowingly or unknowingly through pharmacies, gym instructors, or others, and called for broader public awareness starting in schools. He proposed strengthening the school curriculum beyond the current brief Grade 10 health text reference, including the legal, health, and social consequences of doping, while promoting school, youth, adult, and community sports. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam linked the anti-doping debate to land access in the North and East, arguing that youths need released public and school grounds to develop sports facilities and participate in legitimate sport. He said successive governments had used the Forest Department to appropriate Tamil lands, particularly lands abandoned during the war and later gazetted as forest, and proposed recognizing only pre-1985 forest declarations while releasing other such lands. He reiterated the need for a political settlement with genuine devolution or federal arrangements, while also demanding immediate action on land disputes and the release of grounds under Forest Department or military control, including Gurukulamadam School playground in Batticaloa. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam requested additional time as the sole Opposition speaker and said his remarks were intended to raise constructive issues rather than merely criticize. He suggested that certain local-level dealings may be occurring without NPP leaders’ knowledge, and referred to his earlier comments on doping in the context of obstacles preventing youth from developing and participating in international tournaments. He objected to being personally labelled “Nil Balakaya” in response to those points. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam ITAK AI summary Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam said his party remained in the debate despite the main Opposition’s walkout in order to raise district concerns, while criticizing the Government for limiting Opposition speaking opportunities. Welcoming the anti-doping regulations, he argued that talented youths in the North and East are often unable to compete nationally or internationally due to lack of financial and institutional support, citing wrestling, kabaddi, cricket, and athletics examples. He urged the Ministry of Sports to identify and support talent at school and district level, and requested sports infrastructure in Batticaloa, including a 400-metre track, a public swimming pool, and an integrated sports centre. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sports Regulations Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB AI summary Sajith Premadasa raised a Standing Order 27(2) question on the Government’s decision to stop admitting non-cadet local medical students to Kotelawala Defence University from 2025. He sought details on public expenditure on KDU, medical degree fees, per-student costs, the stated shortage of specialist trainers, safeguards for equal access, and the treatment of local versus foreign students. He also questioned teacher recruitment from state and non-state higher education programmes and the quality assurance of such degrees. He urged the Government to reverse the KDU admissions decision, arguing it undermines free education and equal access while forcing students to seek costlier medical education abroad. Question by Private Notice: Chemmani Cemetery and Related Issues (Q.27(2)) Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana JJB AI summary Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana explained delays in Mahapola stipend payments, noting that the current system requires Treasury funds to pass through the UGC and the Mahapola Trust Fund, while universities must also provide updated and accurate beneficiary lists. He stated that payments of Rs. 5,000 per month up to March are ready to be completed once Treasury funds are received, and that from April the allowance has increased to Rs. 7,500, with two months still pending due to roll-update delays. He said the Trust and Ministry are working to reduce the present three-month lag to about one month. Oral Question Q.??/2025: Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Hon. Ajith Gihan asked whether a mechanism could be established to reduce delays in Mahapola stipend payments, noting that current payments are delayed by about three months. He requested that payments be made within approximately one month. Oral Question Q.??/2025: Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair Read →
- 17 June 2025 The Hon. Ajith Gihan JJB AI summary Ajith Gihan asked the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development to provide details on the most recent Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair, including its date, venue, and expenditure. He also requested the current value of the capital assets of the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund, and asked for reasons if the information could not be provided. Oral Question Q.??/2025: Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair Read →
- 6 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah paid tribute to Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah, highlighting his early activism, education, and long involvement in Tamil political and social struggles. He recalled Senathirajah’s role in organizing youth against standardization, university admission restrictions and the “Sinhala Only” policy, noting that he was imprisoned for over seven years for such activism. He also emphasized Senathirajah’s assistance to students seeking higher education, his work with senior Tamil leaders, and his decades-long advocacy for Tamil rights inside and outside Parliament. Debate: Votes of Condolence for Four Former MPs Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan supported the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill as a step toward streamlining transport services, while highlighting persistent problems in the North and East, including clashes between private and SLTB bus timetables, racing for passengers, and inadequate services for schoolchildren. He urged the Government to import or provide new buses, improve rural routes and rehabilitate local roads so students, teachers and farmers can access schools and markets more effectively. He also requested that jewellery and valuables from the former LTTE bank, now reportedly transferred from Naval custody to the Police, be returned to proven rightful owners through legal procedures, with any unclaimed remainder used for regional development. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan said transport issues affecting schoolchildren had been discussed at DCC meetings and with the relevant chairman, with information already forwarded to ministries for action. He requested recruitment of drivers and conductors for the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu SLTB depots, noting specific shortages, and called for mechanics to be recruited after nearly 20 years to repair unusable buses and restore services. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan welcomed amendments to the National Transport Commission Act, arguing that reforms are needed to reduce delays, corruption and malpractice in transport administration, including route permits, driver licensing, road works and procurement. He urged action on an alleged Rs. 760 million fraud in the Batticaloa–Trincomalee road rehabilitation tender, the recovery of misused public funds, and the prompt appointment of qualified Road Development Authority engineers following completed interviews. He requested phased rehabilitation and construction of several bridges in Batticaloa to improve connectivity across the lagoon, asked for restoration of the previous Colombo–Batticaloa rail timetable to suit onward commuters, and also called for expedited appointments to fill the shortage of school principals. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka (on behalf of the Hon. W.H.M. Dharmasena) SJB AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka, on behalf of W.H.M. Dharmasena, asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education for details on construction projects begun in government schools in the Monaragala District under the “Nearest School–Best School” programme during the Good Governance period. The question sought the number of projects, expenditure incurred, how many were completed or remain incomplete, and what steps will be taken to complete the unfinished works promptly. Oral Questions: Azad Maulana Easter Attacks Statement and Government School Constructions in Monaragala (Tabled Answers) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary The Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan indicated that he wished to raise a question concerning the Ministry of Education. No further details of the question or issue were provided in the excerpt. Oral Question: Dehiattakandiya Land Rights (Deputy Minister Agriculture Response) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna stated that shortages of physical and human resources affect schools islandwide, with particular severity in estate areas. He outlined targeted measures for estate communities, including a Rs. 600 million Indian-assisted grant project, Rs. 30 million from the Budget, and Rs. 10 million under the GEM project for staff training. He said estate schools would receive special consideration in the Government’s policy to ensure fully resourced primary schools within a three-kilometre radius or where needed, especially in view of transport and access difficulties. Oral Question: Tamil-medium Government Schools in Kalutara District A/L Subject Streams (Q.714/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. Danushka Ranganath JJB AI summary Hon. Danushka Ranganath asked the Deputy Minister what future measures can be taken to improve the quality of education for children from estate-dependent families. He noted that many such children are isolated or marginalized and argued that better education is necessary to address that marginalization. Oral Question: Tamil-medium Government Schools in Kalutara District A/L Subject Streams (Q.714/2025) Read →
- 5 June 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna JJB AI summary In response to a question on teacher shortages in estate-sector schools, Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna acknowledged shortages of teachers and physical resources in those schools. He said Teacher Assistants recruited in early 2024 are intended to be absorbed into the Teacher Service after meeting statutory requirements, but the process has been delayed by court action. He also stated that 2024 recruitment to National Colleges of Education was aligned with subject and regional vacancies, and that graduates from the Sripada National Institute of Education are being prioritized for estate schools to reduce disparities. Oral Question: Tamil-medium Government Schools in Kalutara District A/L Subject Streams (Q.714/2025) Read →