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- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara framed the NPP’s electoral mandate as the outcome of a long political process and the people’s aspirations expressed during the Aragalaya, including ending corruption, recovering stolen assets, and changing the political system. He said the Government would address youth issues through planned short-, medium- and long-term interventions, citing unemployment, education, extremism, mental health, drugs, technology, culture, health and climate pressures as key challenges. He proposed a scientific framework for youth employment, placement of over 35,000 unemployed graduates in suitable jobs within a year, and new initiatives including the V4R digital platform, the “11135” rural IT and English programme, and MMC multi-purpose centres. He also pledged to depoliticize sports administration and called on political parties to settle unpaid dues to the Sugathadasa Sports Complex, which he said exceed Rs. 11.4 million. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel JJB AI summary Hon. Ambika Samivel highlighted the long-standing issues faced by Hill Country Tamils, including land rights, housing, wages, health, education, recognition and workplace facilities, arguing that previous governments had provided only temporary political fixes. She said the NPP, including through the 2023 Hatton Declaration and current poverty alleviation programmes, would pursue land titles, titled housing, upgraded estate-area schools, health improvements and support for landslide-affected families in Badulla. She also called for Hill Country Tamils, especially women and children, to be integrated into the national mainstream with equal rights and urged all Members to work together to rebuild the country. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 4 December 2024 The Hon. Eranga Weerarathna - Deputy Minister of Digital Economy AI summary Eranga Weerarathna said the Government’s mandate was to address political, economic, and social decline, including through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to promote discipline, respect for law, and social reform. He outlined the Digital Economy Ministry’s priorities, including restoring and modernizing failed State IT systems, consolidating fragmented digital policy under a national strategy, resolving visa and passport system disruptions, and enforcing digital governance standards. He proposed expanding the engineering workforce to 200,000 by 2030, bridging unemployed graduates into technology jobs, and growing IT/BPM exports to USD 5 billion and the wider digital economy to USD 15 billion by 2030 through public-private cooperation, fintech reforms, Digital ID, and improved ease of doing business. He also stated that Sri Lanka Telecom would remain State-owned while being made profitable. Debate: Government Policy Statement - Resumed Adjourned Debate Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera JJB AI summary Expressing disappointment at disruptions during the debate on the President’s programme, the member said Parliament should focus on rebuilding the country rather than isolated incidents. He argued that the Government’s mandate reflects a collective public call for national reconstruction and responsible conduct by all MPs. He highlighted the NPP’s emphasis on human development and integrated reform of health, education, and social systems, noting concerns over high out-of-pocket health spending and pledging disciplined rebuilding of these sectors. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. T.B. Sarath - Deputy Minister of Housing JJB AI summary Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath thanked voters in Polonnaruwa and argued that current rice and agricultural problems stem from the long-term decline of agriculture after the 1977 open economy and the weakening of institutions such as the Paddy Marketing Board. He cited unused paddy storage capacity and decayed state-supported mills in Polonnaruwa, saying the Government cannot resolve supply issues within weeks of taking office and that those now criticizing helped create the conditions for private domination of the rice sector. He also addressed a recent protest at the Education Ministry, stating that officials offered dialogue, Cabinet action was being pursued, and Police acted lawfully after violence occurred. He said the Government aims over five years to strengthen national unity, uplift the rural economy, and address these issues. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake - Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs JJB AI summary Hon. Gamagedara Dissanayake thanked the people of Matale and endorsed the policy statement as a practical programme focused on ending rural poverty. He highlighted rural deprivation in health, nutrition, education, housing and access to national wealth, especially in the hill country, and said the Government would pursue food security, quality education, mental health support and new rural economic opportunities. He also proposed involving industrialists, entrepreneurs and businesses to revive rural industries, particularly agro-industry, while stating that issues affecting development officers and public servants would be addressed responsibly. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya responded to Opposition concerns about a protest outside the Ministry of Education, stating that Cabinet had approved her proposal to address the grievances of development officers. She said she had held several discussions with their representatives and that the Government was acting to resolve problems caused by past ad hoc recruitment practices. She denied that the Police had been deployed to suppress the protest, saying they responded to developments at the site, and asserted that the Government had a plan to address both this issue and related systemic problems. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe thanked voters for the NPP’s electoral mandate and said the Government would enforce or introduce laws if necessary to counter racism, religious extremism, and unlawful commemorations. He called on the public service to support the Government’s reform agenda, pledging depoliticization, a National Salary Structure, and action on salary anomalies, promotions, transfers, and service issues affecting teachers, principals, teacher instructors, and school development officers. As Deputy Minister of Labour, he said wage determinations in the private, plantation, and semi-government sectors would be reviewed to ensure fair wages and better employer-employee relations. He also defended the Government’s handling of a recent protest at the Education Ministry, saying the new Cabinet needed time to engage, and highlighted initiatives on digitization, “Clean Sri Lanka,” and rural poverty eradication. Debate: President's Policy Statement (Continuation with Maiden Speeches and Responses) Read →
- 3 December 2024 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary Minister Nalinda Jayathissa supported the President’s Policy Statement and emphasized that the NPP’s electoral mandate should be respected in parliamentary conduct, criticizing Opposition actions that he said disrupted agreed debate time. He outlined Government responses to recent disasters, economic difficulties, rice supply shortages, and production support for farmers and fishers, including rice imports through state channels and broader import facilitation. He detailed social protection measures, including extended Aswesuma allowances, increased benefits for poor and extremely poor households, proposed increases for elders, kidney patients and persons with disabilities, and Rs. 6,000 grants for vulnerable schoolchildren. He also said the Government would review Development Officer recruitments and would not permit a return to ethnic or religious extremism. Debate: President's Policy Statement Read →