2021-11-26
News Categories : Committee News
According to the report of the Cabinet Subcommittee on teacher and Principals 'Salary Anomalies, an additional Rs. 31 million has been included in this year's budget following the discussions with the Prime Minister, the Hon. Minister of Finance and the Teachers' Trade Unions, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Education said.
He stated the above addressing the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education which met in Parliament recently (24).
Furthermore, the Minister stated that the z-score for the A / L results has been released and that the obstacles to the release of the G. C. E. OL results while the teacher-principal salary anomaly crisis persisted has been resolved.
Additionally, relevant dates to hold the GCE (Advanced Level) examination, Grade 5 Scholarship Examination and GCE (O / L) examination which was postponed due to COVID – 19 have already been decided, the Minister said. Accordingly, the Grade 5 scholarship examination will be held on January, 2022 and the GCE (Advanced Level) examination will be held in the first week of February. GCE (Ordinary Level) examination will be held on May 23rd.
The report of the technical Committee appointed by the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on the Inclusion of Law as a Subject in School Curriculum was submitted to the Consultative Committee by State Minister of State, (Dr.) Susil Premajayantha for approval.
Addressing the Committee, the state minister said that it is proposed to change the subject of Citizenship Education, which is currently a compulsory subject from Grade 6 to Grade 9 in the school curriculum, to Law and Citizenship Education after these reforms.
According to the report of the technical committee, the inclusion of law as a subject in the school curriculum will create awareness among children about the law, create awareness about the consequences of disobedience and punishment, provide an understanding of the rights protected by law, legislation and law enforcement mechanisms. It is expected to develop skills such as providing an understanding of the duties and responsibilities established by law in a civilized society.
The state minister further stated that the Final Report on the Policy Framework compiled into three sections on Educational Reforms in Vocational Education and Educational Reforms in Higher Education Educational Reforms from Early Childhood to Advanced Level in Relation to Expected New Education Reforms, has been released in August 2020. He also stated that a digital platform for anyone to express their views on general education was launched on March 28th, 2021 under the patronage of the H.E. the President.
The Minister said that a report prepared after examining 2400 ideas and suggestions received for this purpose has been submitted to the National Education Commission.
Hon. State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation (Dr.) Seetha Arambepola said that an urban university would be established in every district where there is no national university.
Initiated as stated in the Policy Statement of H. E. the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the 1000 National Schools Program launched was also discussed at length.
Chairman of the Committee Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Education, Hon. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, (Dr.) Susil Premajayantha, (Dr.) Seetha Arambepola, Piyal Nishantha, Vijitha Berugoda, Hon. Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Thavaraja Kalai Arasan, Sudath Manjula, Shantha Bandara, Eran Wickramaratne, Premnath C. Dolawatte, Cader Mastan, (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi, Yadamini Gunawardena, Anupa Pasqual, Charles Nirmalanathan, Nimal Piyathissa, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan, Udayakantha Goonetileke, Ajith Rajapaksa, Diana Gamage, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Shantha Bandara, Geetha Kumarasinghe, Goonetilleke Rajapaksa, Prof. Charitha Herath, Madhura Withanage, Manjula Dissanayake, Rohana Dissanayake, Kokila Gunawardena and Prof. K. Kapila C.K. Perera Secretary of Ministry of Education and officials were present at this meeting.
2026-01-30
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability focused its attention on the impact of Cyclone ‘Dithwa’ on the agricultural sector and the environment, as well as the measures being taken to restore affected areas to normalcy.These matters were considered when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability met in Parliament on 22.01.2026, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy.Officials representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development participated in the meeting.During the meeting, the Chairman of the Committee inquired whether the officials representing the respective ministries had prepared data-based reports on the damage caused by Cyclone ‘Dithwa’. In response, the officials stated that assessments had been carried out and that reports estimating the damage had already been prepared. The committee was also briefed on these findings. In addition, officials representing the relevant departments and statutory bodies under each ministry presented the data available with their respective institutions to the committee.Following the presentation of data, the Chairman of the Committee sought clarification regarding the compensation to be provided for the damages incurred and the methodology for calculating such compensation. Officials from the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure stated that compensation payments would be made after the submission of a Cabinet Memorandum, and therefore indicated that they were unable to present further details at that stage.The Committee emphasized the importance of establishing a formal and systematic mechanism for the payment of compensation and instructed that the compensation process be expedited. The Committee further recommended that the reports prepared by each ministry on the impact of Cyclone ‘Dithwa’ be submitted to the Committee.Hon. Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Ajith P. Perera, Roshan Akmeemana, Chathuri Gangani, Susantha Kumara Nawaratne, Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath, and Upul Kithsiri also participated in the committee meeting.
2026-01-29
The Sub-Committee on Youth Entrepreneurship, appointed by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, convened in Parliament on 21.01.2026 under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Sunil Rajapaksha, with the objective of taking necessary measures to nurture young entrepreneurs through the National Youth Services Council (NYSC).Officials representing the National Youth Services Council, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and local banks participated in the meeting.During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the criteria formulated by the National Youth Services Council for the implementation of a program aimed at providing the required support to develop and empower young entrepreneurs. Discussions also focused on the support and collaboration that could be extended by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and local banks for this initiative.In addition, the committee paid attention to measures that could be taken to integrate university graduates into the entrepreneurship sector, as part of broader efforts to strengthen youth entrepreneurship in the country.Hon. Members of Parliament Chanaka Madugoda, Attorney-at-Law Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, and Krishnan Kalaichelvi also participated in the meeting of the sub-committee.
2026-01-29
The Committee on Public Finance of Parliament held extensive discussions on issues related to the gem and jewellery industry.These matters were discussed when the committee met in Parliament on 27.01.2026, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva. The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Nishantha Jayaweera, as well as Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, Nimal Palihena, and Wijesiri Basnayake.Representatives of several organizations representing different segments of the gem and jewellery industry and business sector briefed the committee on the challenges faced by their respective fields. They highlighted that the absence of a long-term national policy for the gem and jewellery industry has resulted in significant difficulties, and strongly emphasized the need to formulate a robust national policy for the sector.They further pointed out that the industry could be strengthened by relaxing existing regulations to encourage exports, reviewing and restructuring the role of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, introducing safe harbour rules for income tax, implementing VAT reforms specific to the gem and jewellery industry, regulating foreign entities operating informally, and promoting foreign investment.In addition, industry representatives drew the committee’s attention to issues such as the prohibition on the use of scanning equipment during gem mining operations and the declining availability of land for existing mining activities, which pose serious challenges to the sector.In his concluding remarks, the Chairman of the Committee stated that the discussions helped identify key problem areas within the industry, particularly in relation to liberalization (both fiscal and physical), administration, and policy matters concerning mining operations. Accordingly, he emphasized that the committee intends to consolidate these issues into a comprehensive discussion paper and engage in a series of productive discussions with senior officials of the relevant ministries.
2026-01-29
Agreement to commence operations using existing resources of the Sri Lanka Foundation and the National Film CorporationEstablishment of a technical committee representing all stakeholders to plan next stepsSteps to revive the Colombo International Film Festival this yearDiscussions on constructing a modern, technologically equipped film studio complexPreliminary discussions on establishing a National Film School in Sri Lanka were held recently (Jan. 22) under the leadership of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs.The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Member of Parliament Jagath Manuwarna, Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, and was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne. Officials representing the National Film Corporation, the State Cinema Advisory Board, and the Sri Lanka Foundation participated in the meeting, along with representatives from the Film Directors’ Guild, Art Directors’ Guild, Screenwriters’ Guild, SAARC Cultural Center, university academics specializing in film studies, and a number of professionals from the cinema industry.During the meeting, officials, film professionals, and academics presented their views and proposals regarding the establishment of a National Film School. It was emphasized that the institution should go beyond theoretical instruction and offer programs focused on producing practically skilled filmmakers. The need to operate the school in accordance with international standards of film education was also discussed.Although the establishment of a National Film School has been a long-standing discussion aimed at uplifting the local film industry, it has yet to be realized. In this context, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus stressed the importance of initiating the school through the collective involvement of all relevant stakeholders, making use of existing resources, and strengthening the institution progressively over time.Accordingly, discussions were held on taking initial steps to establish the National Film School by utilizing existing resources of the Sri Lanka Foundation, which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media, and the National Film Corporation, which functions under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. It was also decided to establish a committee to prepare the legal framework, obtain necessary initial approvals, and plan the required preliminary actions.As a result, a technical committee comprising representatives from the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Sri Lanka Foundation, the National Film Corporation, the State Cinema Advisory Board, and representatives of the cinema industry was established.The committee includes the Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus Hon. MP Jagath Manuwarna, Chairman of the National Film Corporation Sudath Mahadivulwewa, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foundation Prof. Seetha Bandara, Chairman of the State Cinema Advisory Board Dr. Senesh Dissanayake Bandara, Director of SAARC Cultural Center Dr. Kaushalya Kumarasinghe along with several representatives from the film sector.In addition, another committee consisting of senior professionals in the cinema industry was appointed to plan academic activities, including the curriculum of the film school.Attention was also drawn to reviving the currently inactive ‘International Film Festival, Colombo’ (IFF Colombo) during this year. Accordingly, agreement was reached on securing the necessary funding and establishing an institution to ensure the long-term, sustainable operation of the festival. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus, Hon. MP Jagath Manuwarna, stated that he is prepared to provide the necessary support and intervention for all these initiatives.Furthermore, discussions were held on constructing a modern, technologically advanced studio complex to support film production activities. The need to identify a suitable land area close to Colombo and the future steps required for this project were also considered.Members of Parliament of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, including Prof. Sena Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law Susantha Dodawatte, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Ruwan Mapalagama, Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe, Dinesh Hemantha, Upul Kithsiri, and several other MPs, also participated in the meeting.
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