News

Govt has allocated record sum for education: Susil

Published

3 years ago

2022/12/3

By Saman Indrajith

The government has allocated 600 billion rupees for education in 2023 and this is the highest amount of money allocated for education in the country’s history, minister of education, Susil Premajayantha told parliament on Thursday (01).The minister said that Sri Lanka did not use its natural resources to its benefit and that in a way was the fault of its education system.

“40 percent of South Korea’s revenue is generated by Samsung. We have a number of mineral resources. We have not made anything using them and as long as we don’t use science and technology, we will remain a poor country,” he said.

The minister said that most students werecompelled to attend private tuition classes, paying a lot of money.

“We must develop school education system. MP Rohini Kumari Wijeratne highlighted many issues faced by students and teachers. These are all real issues and I think we can address most of this through technology. We also need to elevate teacher training colleges to universities. If we don’t improve the quality of our teachers, we won’t be able to improve our education,” he said.

The 2023 budget has allocated 231 billion for education. This is 31 billion rupees more than 2022, he said.

“If we include all the money allocated for schools run by provincial councils, we are spending over 600 billion on education next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, SLPP MP S.B. Dissanayake said that there are 10,000 schools in the country and out of that the state of 7000 schools is tragic.

“There are 200 national schools with appalling infrastructure. The government has allocated 1.1 of the GDP for education. We need to boost professional education. We can make a lot of money from education. I started the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine and faced many issues. Because of the resistance South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine faced, two other entities that wanted to start medical colleges here also withdrew,” he said.

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Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/24

Priyan

The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.

The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.

News

Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56

Published

21 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Karu Jayasuriya

Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.

In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.

He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.

Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.

He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.

News

Johnston, two sons and two others further remanded over alleged misuse of vehicle

Published

21 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and others being escorted out of the Wattala Magistrate Court premises yesterday

Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.

Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.

In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during

Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.

After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.