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- 7 May 2026 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman questioned the Government’s policy allowing 42 students in Grade 1 classes, arguing it contradicts the Supreme Court’s 2012 direction to reduce class sizes to 35 and worsens overcrowding in popular schools while reducing enrolment in smaller schools. He asked why the Government has not restored the 35-student cap previously implemented progressively under former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. Oral Question 3 (840/2025): Dhammarathana Vidyalaya and Other Schools in Moratuwa Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Deputy Minister provided enrolment figures for Dhammarathana Vidyalaya, Lakshapathiya Shikshadhana Vidyalaya, and Sunandopananda Primary School from 2023 to 2026, noting growth at Dhammarathana and declines at the other two schools. He stated that teaching and learning continue with required facilities in all three schools, despite Lakshapathiya having only 30 students in 2026. He attributed reduced demand at Lakshapathiya partly to its location and nearby alternative schools, and said the Primary Schools Development Project includes development of nearby Salina Vidyalaya in 2027, with possible accommodation of Lakshapathiya students there if necessary. Oral Question 3 (840/2025): Dhammarathana Vidyalaya and Other Schools in Moratuwa Read →
- 7 May 2026 The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman SJB AI summary Mujibur Rahuman asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to provide student enrolment figures for Dhammarathana Vidyalaya, Lakshapathiya Shikshadhana Vidyalaya and Sunandopananda Primary School in Moratuwa. He also asked whether the Ministry is aware that these schools are reportedly at risk of closure and what measures will be taken to address the situation. Oral Question 3 (840/2025): Dhammarathana Vidyalaya and Other Schools in Moratuwa Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir AI summary Hon. Naina Thambi Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir welcomed the Bill as timely relief for small-scale entrepreneurs facing loan and vehicle repossession pressures after successive crises including war, the Easter attacks, cyclones and regional conflict effects. He supported proposed Grade 6 education reforms but urged the Government to address inadequate preparation for Grades 1–5 reforms, including teacher training, technology, textbooks and a nationwide teacher shortage. He also requested streamlined local authority procedures for Muslim Qurbani observances during Hajj, while calling for all religious practices, including Vesak, to be facilitated harmoniously without communal tensions. Debate: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Second Reading Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has begun regulating private preschools, while the Ministry of Education has asked divisions to assess needs and propose new preschools, particularly in underserved areas such as the North and East. She stated that preschool administration falls under the Women and Children’s Affairs Ministry and would be coordinated with them. On volunteer teachers, she asked for specific case details, said the Ministry would inquire through provincial authorities, and indicated that a committee could be appointed if affected groups from the 2007 issue remain. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Points of Order Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan urged the Government to expand preschools operated by local authorities, especially in poor and war-affected areas in the North and East, where private preschool fees limit access for children. He requested an appropriate circular and funding arrangements through the Government or local authorities. He also called for a province-wise committee to review 300–400 former volunteer teachers allegedly denied appointments for political reasons, and to provide relief through permanent appointments or teacher assistant positions by revising past circulars where necessary. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Points of Order Read →
- 6 May 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 Ministry needs time to inquire at provincial level into allegations of political interference in granting permanent appointments to volunteer teachers, as it currently lacks such information. She said Cabinet approval in 2007 allowed only up to 4,700 volunteer teachers to be appointed as teacher assistants under a 2006 Cabinet Memorandum, and provinces were informed that no further appointments should be made. She added that the Ministry has not recruited volunteer teachers after 4 January 2007. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Points of Order Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister said preschool education needs regulation and standardization, noting that most preschools are privately run and therefore their teachers cannot currently be given permanent Government appointments or fixed Government salaries or allowances. She said the Ministry is working with the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs on preschool education reforms for 2027, including implementation of the National Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework, teacher guides, model activities, and provincial-level teacher training. She also stated that a National Policy for Preschool Education is planned for 2026, that no provincial school was declared a national school in 2014, and that some requested information is not presently available with the Ministry. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Points of Order Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, under Standing Order 27(2), about regulating preschool education and creating a uniform national system with salary structures and benefits for preschool teachers. He also proposed reviewing the preschool-to-Grade 1 transition, including reducing the preschool period and setting Grade 1 admission at age five. He raised concerns about schools nationalized in 2014 without new cadre creation and urged action on volunteer teachers, especially in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, who remain without permanent appointments despite Cabinet approval, interviews, or wartime service. He requested a special committee to study their cases and either grant permanent appointments or absorb them as teacher assistants. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) and Points of Order Read →
- 6 May 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 recent expansion of university intakes, programmes, and faculties had not been matched by adequate planning for facilities and staffing. She said the Government’s current priority is improving quality within existing structures, better managing human resources, and ensuring staffing for both teaching and research. She noted that a committee is assessing these needs, a cadre review will be undertaken, and universities have been permitted to fill academic and non-academic vacancies, including over 3,000 academic posts approved last year. Oral Question: GCE Advanced Level Examination Results and Higher Education Reforms Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka JJB AI summary Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka asked whether the Government has adopted a policy to expand university facilities and increase staff in proportion to the increased university intake. The question was directed to the Prime Minister as a supplementary matter concerning higher education capacity. Oral Question: GCE Advanced Level Examination Results and Higher Education Reforms Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary A committee has been appointed to develop a policy and framework for higher education reforms and has been working for about six months. The Prime Minister noted that the review covers universities, Higher National Diploma programmes, and vocational sector needs, and is identifying current issues and changes needed to align with school education reforms. Further changes are to be made following the committee’s report, recommendations, and consultations. Oral Question: GCE Advanced Level Examination Results and Higher Education Reforms Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka JJB AI summary Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka asked whether the Government has begun reforms in universities, higher education institutes such as the Hardy Advanced Technological Institute in Ampara, and vocational education institutions to align with ongoing school education reforms. He requested the timeline for implementing these synchronized higher and vocational education reforms. Oral Question: GCE Advanced Level Examination Results and Higher Education Reforms Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister, responding to Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka, provided 2026 A/L candidate and university-qualification figures by stream, stating that 281,810 candidates sat and 176,538 qualified for university admission, with 42,937 expected admissions. She said intake to first degree programmes would remain broadly at recent levels while prioritising improvements to facilities and programme quality. She also announced two new 2025/2026 programmes—Geographic Information Systems at the University of Ruhuna and Electronic and Intelligent Systems Engineering at the University of Peradeniya, each with 50 places—and said courses are expected to begin from the first week of September 2026 after Z-scores and registration lists are issued. Oral Question: GCE Advanced Level Examination Results and Higher Education Reforms Read →
- 6 May 2026 The Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka JJB AI summary Hon. Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka asked the Prime Minister for details on the 2025 GCE Advanced Level results and related university admissions. He requested stream-wise candidate numbers, the number qualified for university admission, planned state university intake compared with the previous year, the number of new degree programmes to be introduced, and the expected commencement date of academic programmes. Oral Question: GCE Advanced Level Examination Results and Higher Education Reforms Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that education reforms are proceeding under a National Operations Committee that includes union representatives, with no internal process issues anticipated. She said Grade 6 implementation is planned for January, awareness programmes for teachers, parents, and students will be held by July–August, and World Bank assistance has been received to support the reforms. Oral Questions Q.7-Q.9: Education Statistics, Aquaculture, CEB and SriLankan Airlines Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake urged early public awareness and preparation for the forthcoming Grade 6 education reforms to avoid problems experienced previously, including controversy over the removal of History. He asked whether the reported USD 300 million World Bank funding for reforms had been received, and called for teacher training, textbook printing, and module preparation to be completed by December for implementation in January. Oral Questions Q.7-Q.9: Education Statistics, Aquaculture, CEB and SriLankan Airlines Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Reforms for Grades 2 and 6 are being prepared for implementation in 2027, while the Grade 1 reforms introduced in 2026 are reported to be progressing well. Module activity books are being printed, Grade 6 content has been finalized by subject committees, and printing is scheduled to begin this month. Teacher training for Grade 6 is planned to start in June, with funding already allocated. Oral Questions Q.7-Q.9: Education Statistics, Aquaculture, CEB and SriLankan Airlines Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake asked the Prime Minister about the implementation of the new education reforms, noting that Grade 1 began in 2026 and Grade 2 is expected in 2027 amid earlier controversy over modules. He sought confirmation that the reforms will proceed in 2027 and asked whether teacher training, funding to Provincial Education Offices, and textbook printing have been completed to avoid a recurrence of previous problems. Oral Questions Q.7-Q.9: Education Statistics, Aquaculture, CEB and SriLankan Airlines Read →
- 5 May 2026 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary In response to a question on education examination participation, figures were provided for GCE O/L candidates from 2022 to 2024, ranging from 317,326 to 322,704 students. It was stated that 221,413 students from the 2022 O/L cohort sat the GCE A/L in 2025, while the 2023 and 2024 cohorts had not yet reached the corresponding A/L examinations. The response also gave comparative percentages of students admitted to Grade 1 who later sat the examinations, including 65.29% for the 2025 A/L cohort and O/L rates of 93.57% in 2022, 92.08% in 2023, and 95.15% in 2024. Oral Questions Q.7-Q.9: Education Statistics, Aquaculture, CEB and SriLankan Airlines Read →