Education

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa addressed the ongoing effort to upgrade diploma nursing schools to degree-level institutions, confirming that the process began during discussions held between September and November 2024 under the Prime Minister's health portfolio and is now being managed jointly by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education through a committee. He outlined the complexity of the undertaking, which involves converting existing nursing schools rather than establishing new institutions, along with requirements for academic staffing, facility upgrades, and public service integration of graduates. While committing to proceeding as quickly as possible, he declined to provide a firm timeline for completion.

Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake raised a supplementary question regarding the long-delayed upgrade of Sri Lanka's nursing education from diploma to degree level, noting that the World Bank had recommended this change as far back as 1963. He referenced a prior discussion held with the Minister of Education on 16 March 2025, including an advisory committee meeting, and noted that approximately a year had elapsed without resolution. He asked the Minister to identify the current obstacles preventing the implementation of this upgrade.

Hon. Chanaka Madugoda, acting on behalf of the Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Labour and Human Resources Development, tabled the Committee's reports on the Annual Reports and Accounts for 2022 and 2023 of three universities: Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, and Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. These documents had been previously referred to the Committee for review. The reports were ordered to lie upon the Table of Parliament.

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa made a brief acknowledgement of the Mahapola Fund and its association with Lalith Athulathmudali, affirming that Athulathmudali is widely recognised and respected across the country for his contribution to establishing the fund, and expressing confidence that this recognition will be maintained going forward.

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake raised a supplementary question referencing the vandalism of a statue of Mr. Athulathmudali at Peradeniya four years prior, alongside the alleged misrepresentation of the Mahapola scholarship scheme. Speaking as a close associate of Mr. Athulathmudali, he called on the government to institute appropriate recognition and ensure that Athulathmudali is properly acknowledged as the originator of the Mahapola concept.

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa acknowledged the historical significance of the Mahapola scholarship programme, noting it was established under former Minister Lalith Athulathmudali and has benefited many Sri Lankans, including members of Parliament. He indicated that, in his capacity as a member of the Mahapola Board of Trustees, the Minister of Trade would provide a formal response to a preceding member's suggestion, which he undertook to convey to the Minister.

The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake highlighted that 418,637 economically disadvantaged students have benefited from a programme originally initiated by Lalith Athulathmudali. He drew attention to the limited capacity of the state university system, noting that only approximately 55,800 of the 177,000 students who pass Advanced Level examinations gain UGC-allocated university places. Karunanayake asked the Government to consider establishing a university named in honour of Lalith Athulathmudali in response to this educational access gap.

## Summary Hon. M. S. Abthul Wazeeth raised several development and administrative concerns relating to the Pottuvil area of the Ampara District. He requested the establishment of a modern sports ground in Vattiveli, Kalappulattu, or Sarvodaya Puram, the completion and upgrading of existing grounds at Jalaludeen Square, Pasarichenai, and Komari, and the provision or rehabilitation of sports grounds for seven named schools, noting that over 40 sports clubs and 1,000 youth members currently lack adequate facilities. He also called for the urgent appointment of a permanent sports officer to the Pottuvil Divisional Secretariat, the establishment of a Youth Vocational Training Centre, and the equipping of the Sainthamaruthu Youth Training Centre with laptops, a photocopier, and a projector. On agricultural matters, he urged the government to purchase wet paddy at the guaranteed price, as recent rains have prevented farmers from drying paddy, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by private traders offering very low prices. He raised a concern regarding the Eastern Provincial Public Service Commission's 2023/2024 Graduate Teachers examination, where 30 candidates passed and were interviewed in May 2024 but have not received appointments due to a claimed absence of vacancies, tabling related documents. He further called for the resumption of stalled construction works at the Pottuvil Regional Secretariat bus depot, for which approximately Rs. 60 million was allocated and contracted to SDCC in November 2023.

## Summary Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa challenged the Government over the operational status and independence of the National Commission on Women, presenting documentary evidence — including the relevant Gazette notification and pages from the Appropriation Act No. 23 of 2025 — to contradict the Minister's parliamentary statements. He highlighted the resignation of Commission Chair Dr. Ramani Jayasundere, citing lack of institutional independence, government interference in staff appointments, and the posting of a Ministry official as CEO, while contrasting the Commission's subordinate budgetary status with that of other independent commissions. Premadasa further criticised the Government's allocation of LKR 50 million to the Commission in 2026 as inadequate relative to the LKR 150 million requested, arguing it fell short of election commitments made to women voters. He also raised a procedural complaint, tabling correspondence showing that several of his questions to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education — concerning Gampaha Wickramarachchi University, unappointed acting principals, and graduate teacher recruitment — had been disallowed, which he characterised as an infringement on the Opposition's right to parliamentary scrutiny.

Hon. Mujibur Rahuman accused the opposing side of political inconsistency, contrasting their past actions during the 1987-88 Indo-Lanka Accord period — when they mobilized schoolchildren in street protests under nationalist slogans — with their current criticism regarding student welfare during O/L examinations. He further highlighted a contradiction in their position on the military, noting that they previously opposed military training and "militarization" while in Opposition, but now advocate for expanding the Army's role to include civilian economic activities such as selling produce.