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- 18 February 2025 Hon. R. M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security JJB AI summary Hon. R. M. Jayawardhana defended the NPP Government’s first Budget, stating that it was organized around 12 priority areas including health, education, transport, agriculture, social protection, national security, and public services. He clarified that the proposed Sinhala-Tamil New Year “essentials pack” would be a concessional Lanka Sathosa package worth about Rs. 15,000 sold for Rs. 10,000, not a free handout. He highlighted increases to Mahapola and other student stipends, allocations for SMEs, industrial parks, tourism, agriculture, education, and Eastern Province irrigation, and said the Government was seeking to sustain Pelwatte and Sevanagala sugar companies without closures. He concluded that the Budget provided salary and pension improvements and reflected better public financial management. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe SLMC AI summary Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe welcomed beneficial measures in the Budget and said the Opposition would support positive initiatives while guiding the Government where needed. He urged timely guaranteed prices and irrigation funding for flood-affected farmers in the Eastern Province, especially Ampara, and called for greater education allocations, including development of South Eastern University with proposed Faculties of Medicine and Law. He also stated that the Opposition is ready for elections, called for a new Constitution to address the ethnic question, and raised concern that the Clean Sri Lanka programme has not yet adequately included Tamil or Muslim representation. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Nanda Bandara JJB AI summary Hon. Nanda Bandara supported the National People’s Power Government’s inaugural Budget, arguing that it redirects resources from political privileges to public welfare and development. He highlighted major allocations for health, nutrition and education, including hospital improvements, medicines, school infrastructure, preschool support, teacher training, student assistance and salary increases for teachers, as well as pension adjustments. He rejected Opposition claims that the Budget was IMF-driven or a continuation of the previous Government’s policies, and stated that the Government would use transparent tendering and anti-corruption measures to ensure funds reach communities. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha supported the 2025 Budget as the National People’s Power Government’s first step toward its “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life” programme, arguing that it marks a shift from previous Budgets toward social, economic and political transformation. He highlighted projected revenue of Rs. 4,960 billion, total expenditure of Rs. 7,190 billion, increased allocations for salaries, education and health, including Rs. 185 billion for medicines, and measures to support industry, small investment, agriculture and tourism. He also emphasized national harmony, development of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, support for persons with disabilities, autistic children and the elderly, and a “scientific” public sector salary increase that raises basic pay. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama JJB AI summary Hon. Ruwan Mapalagama supported the President’s Budget, highlighting allocations for the Karasnagala Integrated Water Supply Project in Gampaha, an inland container terminal at Veyangoda, and tourism development in Attanagalla and surrounding historic sites. He cited welfare and education measures including increased allowances for schoolchildren, preschool meals and teachers, scholarship recipients, sports school students, TVET trainees, and university students. He also referred to policy moves on digital payments, support for persons with autism and special needs, restoration of the Jaffna Public Library collections, and the removal of MPs’ vehicle permits and concessions. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah SLMC AI summary Hon. Hizbullah supported the 2025 Budget’s welfare and development allocations but argued that salary increases for public and private sector workers were insufficient and too heavily staggered. He said the Eastern Province had been neglected compared with specific allocations for the Northern Province, and requested capital funding for flood-damaged infrastructure, schools, roads, bridges, South Eastern University flood protection, and teacher recruitment. He called for rehabilitation of Oluvil Port as a fisheries harbour, expansion of Valaichchenai fisheries harbour, revival of the Valaichchenai Paper Mill with investment, and implementation of irrigation and tank-integration plans to address flooding and improve agriculture. He also welcomed the Justice Minister’s proposal to transport children separately from adult prisoners and noted unresolved administrative issues in some newly created local authorities in the North and East. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary Hon. K. Kader Masthan urged the Government to complete halted development works in the Vanni and Northern Province, including 38 incomplete school buildings, unfinished roads and bridges, and resettlement-related infrastructure, and requested that Northern resettlement funding be increased from Rs. 1,500 million to Rs. 5,000 million. He called for a time-bound resettlement plan for about 17,000 families, changes to Forest and Wildlife Department restrictions affecting land allocation, housing for war-affected communities, elephant fences and compensation for elephant damage. He also requested the establishment and funding of a Medical Faculty at the University of Vavuniya, welcomed allocations for roads, digital payments, children, education and sports, and urged the rehabilitation and opening of the Puttalam-Mannar road via Eluwankulam to improve connectivity and tourism. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. K. Kader Masthan SLLP AI summary K. Kader Masthan said the Budget contains measures intended to benefit the public, including allocations for upcountry communities to improve livelihoods and living standards. He also welcomed increased education funding, noting that in the war-affected North some children still study without proper classrooms, and referred to earlier allocations and ongoing construction work to improve school facilities. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 The Hon. Dinindu Saman AI summary Hon. Dinindu Saman supported the Budget as the National People’s Power Government’s first “people’s Budget,” arguing that it allocates relief and development despite inheriting a bankrupt economy and liabilities such as SriLankan Airlines debt. He highlighted major allocations for health and education, including Rs. 604 billion for health, Rs. 619 billion for education, increased Mahapola and vocational training stipends, school infrastructure, nutrition, teacher development, sports schools, and support for poorer districts such as Badulla. He also said the Budget aims to eradicate poverty through education and economic strengthening of welfare-recipient families, provides a fair wage structure for public servants, and includes funds to address the human–elephant conflict. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that teacher transfers are carried out by the Teachers’ Transfer Board, with union representation but not union control. She said current issues in transfers are not solely due to unions but also reflect political interference, and noted that union leaders had told her this year’s transfer appointments were handled properly and independently because she did not intervene. She emphasized that her role is to ensure the Transfer Board functions independently. Oral Question No. 4 (247/2024): Teacher Attachments and Transfers Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake raised concerns about teacher transfer practices, alleging that some unions had undue influence over placements and that certain teachers in National and city schools had remained in the same posts for 20 to 30 years, with some reportedly not teaching. He requested that future teacher transfers ensure a fair redistribution of staff, including moving long-serving teachers from the same schools to other placements. Oral Question No. 4 (247/2024): Teacher Attachments and Transfers Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Teacher vacancies in National Schools could not be filled for some time due to a pending court case, and Provincial-to-National School attachments were used as an interim measure. The issue has now been resolved, and the Government plans to fill most subject-specific shortages this year, including by appointing graduates passing out from colleges of education. Oral Question No. 4 (247/2024): Teacher Attachments and Transfers Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake raised concerns about teacher shortages in key subjects at Badulla Central College and other Provincial Schools, noting that temporary teacher attachments within the Province had previously helped address such gaps. He said this practice had been stopped by a circular issued during the previous period and asked that it be reconsidered. He also pointed out that newly qualified teacher training college graduates are awaiting appointments. Oral Question No. 4 (247/2024): Teacher Attachments and Transfers Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary The Prime Minister, as Minister of Education, confirmed that temporary teacher attachments are used between National and Provincial Schools to address staffing shortages. She stated that a 14 July 2023 circular directed Zonal Directors to make such attachments based on Subject Directors’ recommendations, including moving excess teachers to schools with subject shortages, and said the remaining parts of the question were not applicable. Oral Question No. 4 (247/2024): Teacher Attachments and Transfers Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education whether she is aware that teachers from provincial council schools have been attached to National Schools. He sought clarification on whether those attachments will not be extended and, if so, how the resulting teacher vacancies in National Schools will be addressed. Oral Question No. 4 (247/2024): Teacher Attachments and Transfers Read →
- 18 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya presented the 2022 Annual Report of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka to Parliament. She moved that the report be referred to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, and the motion was agreed to. Tabling of Annual Reports and Ministerial Consultative Committee Referrals Read →
- 17 February 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Hon. Namal Rajapaksa requested an early response to his letter seeking a Special Committee to investigate USAID and NGO transactions, arguing that Parliament and the public should know about such activities. He opposed any postponement of the Local Authority Elections, while urging the Government and Election Commission to ensure campaigning does not disrupt the O/L examinations affecting around 400,000 to 450,000 students. He alleged recent intimidation of media, activists, protesters and political opponents, including arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and incidents in Matale, Akuressa and Agunukolapelessa, and called on the Government to ensure a free, peaceful election without repression. Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill: Second Reading Read →
- 17 February 2025 Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake AI summary The speech outlines 2025 Budget proposals to expand health and education services, including health system digitalization, strengthening primary and estate-level health care, pandemic preparedness, and targeted services for children with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism. It proposes Rs. 200 million for a neurodevelopmental treatment centre at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Rs. 250 million for a model inclusive day-care centre, and a wider five-year district-level rollout. In education, it notes allocations for school and university infrastructure, increases the preschool breakfast payment from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100, provides funds for early childhood centres, and proposes an additional Rs. 1,000 allowance for preschool teachers from June. Appropriation Bill, 2025: Second Reading - Debate Adjourned Read →
- 17 February 2025 Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education AI summary The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education met under the chairmanship of Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya on 17 February 2025, with the participation of government and opposition Members. The sitting was recorded as a committee meeting relating to the education, higher education, and vocational education portfolios, with the listed Members in attendance. Parliamentary Structure and Committees Read →
- 14 February 2025 Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa tabled Finance Commission recommendations for 2025 and an order under the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act, moving that they be referred to the Committee on Public Finance, which the House agreed to. He also laid orders relating to the establishment of the Department of Public Health and Family Medicine at the University of Moratuwa under the Universities Act and a customs import duty schedule under the Customs Ordinance, which were ordered to lie upon the Table. Tabling of Papers: Auditor-General Reports and Ministerial Orders Read →