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 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya responded to a question on education staffing in Puttalam District, stating that there are eight National Schools, two Educational Zones, 179 teacher vacancies in National Schools and 1,262 in Provincial Schools, with detailed breakdowns tabled. She said around 4,500 National Colleges of Education diploma holders are expected to be appointed in January 2025, and further recruitment to vacancies arising after 30 June 2023 has Cabinet approval for 2025. She also explained that absorption of Development Officers and other graduates into the teaching service remains suspended due to a court order and lack of Public Service Commission approval for recruitment without competitive exams, while ministerial and officials’ committees are preparing recommendations for a long-term solution. Procedural: Ministerial Statement and Points of Order Read →
- 17 December 2024 EDUCATIONAL ZONES IN PUTTALAM DISTRICT: SCARCITY OF TEACHERS — The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka on behalf of the Hon. Chithral Fernando AI summary Asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education to provide details on the number of National Schools and Educational Zones in the Puttalam District, and the teacher vacancies in each zone by subject. The question also sought information on what measures would be taken to provide a permanent solution to the teacher shortage in the district, or reasons if such information or action could not be provided. Procedural: Ministerial Statement and Points of Order Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Nalin Bandara Jayamaha thanked the Prime Minister for the response and raised the issue of around 16,000 Development Officers who have been assisting the teaching service since 2012. He noted that even those recruited within the last five years have now completed more than five years of service, and sought attention to their position and future arrangements. Oral Question: Wayamba University Faculties Details (Q.106/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Wayamba University was established with four faculties under the Gazette of 17 August 1999: Applied Sciences, Business Studies and Finance, Agriculture and Plantation Management, and Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition. It now has six faculties, with Medicine and Technology added, but no proposal has been submitted to establish an Engineering Faculty, so the University Grants Commission has not approved one. Oral Question: Wayamba University Faculties Details (Q.106/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education for details on the original faculty plan for the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, including the number and names of faculties initially proposed and those established to date. He specifically sought reasons why the Faculty of Engineering has not yet been established and what measures are being taken to establish it. Oral Question: Wayamba University Faculties Details (Q.106/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister stated that Sri Lanka currently has 502,269 children in early childhood education, across first and second stages, and that policy should be based on these figures. She said the immediate priority is to standardize existing pre-schools and ensure adequate facilities, safety, and nutrition, while the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Ministry of Education work toward a common, multi-stakeholder decision, with further responses to follow. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage asked for clarification on the Government’s proposed school system reforms, particularly the plan to establish one school every three kilometres. He questioned whether the existing number of pre-schools would be sufficient under such a policy and whether a similar expansion or reform plan applies to pre-schools. He also requested details on the estimated number of new schools required and whether the policy has been fully assessed. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said early childhood institutions are currently regulated through multiple bodies, including the National Child Protection Authority, Provincial Departments of Social Services, Provincial Pre-school Units and the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development. She stated that clearer and more uniform standards are needed, particularly on administrators’ and teachers’ qualifications, and that the sector should be better anchored within the national education system. She indicated plans to introduce a standardized diploma and a regulatory programme to bring existing pre-school teachers up to that standard, alongside new early childhood initiatives focused on soft skills, empathy and creativity. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage raised concerns about inconsistent Provincial Council statutes governing pre-schools and noted that over 2,000 Early Childhood Development centres appear to be operating without registration. He questioned the adequacy of current regulation, particularly regarding the qualifications and diploma processes for pre-school administrators. He asked whether the Government plans to introduce a national-level mechanism to ensure all pre-schools/ECD centres are properly regulated and registered. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary The Minister provided figures on early childhood development centres and teachers as at 31 March 2024, stating there were 19,099 centres and 17,152 teachers, and confirmed that national standards have been introduced though not all centres meet them. She tabled the handbook on National Standards for Early Childhood Development Centres, outlining 20 standards across physical environment, health and safety, staff competence, learning environment, and management, including staffing ratios and facility requirements. She stated that registration, management and monitoring are devolved to Provincial Councils under the Thirteenth Amendment, with provincial authorities and national early childhood development officers conducting oversight. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) Read →
- 17 December 2024 The Hon. Hesha Withanage AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage asked the Minister of Women and Child Affairs for data on early childhood development centres in Sri Lanka, including the total number operating and how many are government-registered. He sought clarification on whether unregistered centres may operate, the basic qualifications required to run such a centre, and whether an action plan exists to monitor them. Oral Question: Early Childhood Development Centres Registration and Monitoring (Q.45/2024) Read →
- 6 December 2024 The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi SJB AI summary Hon. Chathura Galappaththi thanked his constituents and recalled his family’s political service before focusing on digitalization during the Interim Appropriation debate. He argued that digital systems are essential to reduce corruption, fraud and inefficiency in the public service, referenced ICTA’s establishment and later neglect, and pledged Opposition support for the Government’s digitalization efforts. He also highlighted the Opposition’s Smart Classroom initiative as a means of expanding ICT knowledge and entrepreneurship among students. He rejected references to a “74-year curse,” arguing that Sri Lanka made progress after independence and that responsibility for recent governance should not be attributed to his political camp. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 6 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni - Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister thanked voters in Kandy and said the Government’s mandate reflects citizens’ expectations for basic services and accountable governance. Drawing on his medical background, he argued that the health sector must reduce the gap between patients and treatment, improve prevention, address medicine shortages linked to administrative issues and corruption, strengthen food safety, and ensure affordable quality medicines. He announced that from 1 January the use of children under 12 in commercial advertising would be prohibited, and said the Mass Media portfolio would focus on improving facilities and professional training for journalists. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 6 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana - Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Sudarshana thanked the people of Kurunegala and said the National People’s Power Government recognized the scale of public expectations following its election victory. He emphasized education as a central policy priority, citing inequalities in the school system and arguing that free education, won through historical struggle, must be protected and strengthened. He proposed making quality early childhood development for ages 3-5 a primary State responsibility, including teacher training, health and nutrition integration, and multicultural and multilingual learning, while also addressing child protection, malnutrition, and educational difficulties. He called for reforms to outdated child-related laws, better coordination between child protection institutions, direct supervision of at-risk children through Divisional Secretariats, and targeted interventions for women, who he said remain marginalized. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 6 December 2024 Hon. Chrishantha Abeysena - Minister of Science and Technology JJB AI summary Hon. Chrishantha Abeysena thanked voters in Gampaha, particularly Wattala and Ja-Ela, and paid tribute to JVP activists, student movements, and those defending free education and social justice. He argued that successive governments had undermined free education and neglected workers, farmers, and medical students, calling for urgent action to address staffing, clinical facilities, and academic standards in new medical faculties in line with Sri Lanka Medical Council requirements. He pledged that the NPP Government would pursue justice for Easter attack victims and work for national reconciliation based on equal rights beyond ethnic or religious divisions. As Minister of Science and Technology, he said Sri Lanka had underinvested in the sector, citing very low research and technology spending compared with other countries, and stressed the need to make science and technology central to economic development. Debate on Vote on Account for Ministry of Public Administration and Related Matters Read →
- 5 December 2024 The Hon. K.S. Kugathasan ITAK AI summary Hon. K.S. Kugathasan, in his maiden speech, welcomed the President’s policy statement on transparent, merit-based governance, rule of law, an efficient public service, protection of public assets and action against corruption, while urging that these pledges be implemented in practice. He argued that economic policy should pursue not only growth but equitable development and income distribution, citing Bolivia as an example where growth increased inequality. He proposed strengthening agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry, including through specialized universities similar to the Agricultural University at Coimbatore, to support sectoral development and foreign exchange earnings. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Read →
- 5 December 2024 The Hon. Rohana Bandara AI summary Rohana Bandara welcomed the President’s emphasis on a digital economy and the creation of a separate Science and Technology Ministry with qualified experts. He questioned whether the allocated Rs. 1.78 billion for Science and Technology and Rs. 3.78 billion for the Digital Economy were sufficient for the major transformation promised. He noted that similar commitments had been made by previous leaders and urged the Government to translate the current pledges into reality. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Read →
- 5 December 2024 The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB AI summary Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala acknowledged the Government’s large mandate and said the Opposition would support measures beneficial to the country while opposing actions harmful to the public. He urged the Government to address the high cost of living, including food prices and widespread hardship, and warned that public expectations must be met quickly after the economic crisis. He rejected claims that nothing had been achieved over 76 years, citing progress in free education and health, and called for practical short-, medium- and long-term measures to earn foreign exchange, particularly by improving foreign employment remittances and tourism to help meet debt obligations by 2028. Debate on Vote on Account for 2025 (continued) Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen SJB AI summary Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen thanked voters in the Vanni district and said his party would support the Government if the President’s policy statement is implemented sincerely, while urging Parliament to focus on the economic crisis rather than campaign rhetoric. He called for weekly monitoring and control of prices of essential goods, equal treatment of all communities, stronger relations with India and Middle Eastern countries, improved investor facilitation, tourism development, education and technology reform, and value addition to mineral resources. He also urged a full investigation into the Easter attacks, the release of detainees held without proof in connection with those attacks or alleged LTTE links, and the restoration of halted funds for resettled Jaffna Muslims and roads in Puttalam. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran congratulated the new Government and welcomed the President’s commitment to a country free of racism and extremism, but expressed concern that the President’s address did not set out a solution to the ethnic issue affecting Tamil people. He requested full powers for the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat, including permanent administrative appointments, and proposed new Divisional Secretariats centred on Komari and Malwatte to improve access to public services. He also called for a new Education Zone for Tamil schools around Kalmunai and urged the Government to immediately halt ilmenite sand mining activity in Thirukkovil, citing risks to local communities, resources and ancestral lands. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →