Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that officials engaged in the transport sector, together with all others working in the field, are dedicated to improving the country’s transport services as a sector that is responsive to the needs of the people.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on October 8 in Parliament, participating in the debate on the supplementary estimates of the Ministry of Transport related to the 2026 Budget.

The Prime Minister further stated that the supplementary estimate proposal presented by the Ministry of Transport serves as a good example of transparency and financial discipline within a ministry. When certain projects face obstacles toward the end of the year, obtaining allocations through a supplementary estimate reflects sound financial management and accountability.

She noted that in the past, projects were not always carried out through proper budgetary allocations, and the Ministry of Transport had long been perceived as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country. However, this perception is now changing, with steps being taken to eliminate corruption and malpractice.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Transport, which is responsible for public transportation and highways, two critical areas of national infrastructure, is now being systematically strengthened to better serve the needs of the public. The Prime Minister commended the Ministry’s efforts to identify its challenges and implement appropriate solutions, adding that this supplementary allocation provides an opportunity to further transform the Ministry into an efficient, people-oriented institution that works in the public interest.

Highlighting the connection between poor financial management and the country’s economic crisis, the Prime Minister stated that weaknesses in project identification and implementation had caused serious setbacks to sectors such as transport and highways. Many projects in the past were poorly planned or executed due to decisions made for personal or corrupt motives rather than in the public interest. Consequently, numerous projects were delayed or left incomplete.

She further explained that similar issues were observed across other ministries as well, requiring the Government to reallocate funds to continue or complete previously suspended or abandoned projects. This, she noted, is one of the underlying factors of the broader economic challenges the country faces. The supplementary allocations, therefore, are intended to complete projects in a way that minimizes harm to the country and its people.

The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of improving public transportation so that people can travel safely, efficiently, and comfortably. She stressed that public transport must be accessible to all, including children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, and expressed appreciation for the steps taken by the Ministry to address these needs.

The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya mentioned that the Ministry of Education has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Transport as part of efforts to improve school infrastructure. The Prime Minister noted that developing school infrastructure is not limited to constructing buildings—it also involves improving roads leading to schools, enhancing public transport services for students, and ensuring their quality and safety.

The Prime Minister stated that discussions have been initiated with the Ministry of Transport to address transportation issues affecting remote and rural schools that lack proper access roads. These efforts are essential to safeguard the transportation rights and safety of children in those areas.

She added that in the past, school transport drivers and attendants showed a strong sense of responsibility and care toward their passengers, ensuring children’s safety with dedication. She emphasized that this sense of responsibility and attitude should be revived and welcomed the Ministry’s current efforts to encourage such positive change.

The Prime Minister further highlighted the importance of improving facilities for persons with disabilities and senior citizens at railway stations and within trains, as well as ensuring adequate sanitary facilities for passengers.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Sensitive social issues should not be used for political advancement.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated that the Government does not grant any special privileges or promote anyspecific group of people and emphasized that sensitive social issues should not be used for political advantage.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on October 8 in Parliament, responding to a question raised by Opposition MP Kavinda Jayawardena regarding the LGBTIQ+ community.

Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated that sensitive social issues should not be used for political advantage and that such matters must be handled with care, as some communities already face difficulties because of them. She noted that the Constitution ensures equality for all and reaffirmed that, in line with the Government’s policy, no special privileges are granted or promotion extended to any group.

Responding to another question regarding inmates, the Prime Minister stated that the restructuring of prisons is being examined by the Minister of Justice and the relevant ministry. Measures are being taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children under five, and judicial reforms are needed to prevent children from being kept in such facilities.

Commenting on educational reforms, the Prime Minister noted that teacher training colleges have not been revised for a long time and that attention has not been given to resource management and operations. She stated that curricula should align with the current context and upcoming educational reforms.

The Prime Minister added that the Government aims to ensure all teachers become degree holders and to upgrade teacher training colleges to degree-awarding institutions. The Kuliyapitiya Teachers Training College already confers degrees, and the Government plans to extend this to the remaining 19 training colleges.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a discussion with the representatives of the United Nations Technical Electoral Needs Assessment Mission held on 7 October at the Parliamentary Premises.

The discussion focused on assessing the conduct of previous elections in Sri Lanka in terms of transparency and inclusivity, as well as evaluating the institutional, legal, and operational frameworks governing elections. It also aimed to understand the capacity and readiness of key electoral institutions, including the Election Commission, and the engagement of political stakeholders.

The representatives of the UN Technical Electoral Needs Assessment Mission noted Sri Lanka’s established electoral mechanisms and reiterated their readiness to assist in addressing challenges to ensure transparency and integrity in the electoral process. Discussions also centered on enhancing women’s and minority community participation, digitalizing aspects of the electoral process, and exploring the potential for enabling overseas voting for Sri Lankan citizens.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the importance of viewing the electoral process holistically and underscored the need to encourage women’s participation not only as candidates but also as active voters. She further reiterated that preventing violence, corruption, and the misuse of state resources is essential to ensuring that elections are conducted in a free, fair, and democratic manner.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and senior officials from the United Nations Headquarters and UNDP Sri Lanka, including Michele Griffin, Director of the Electoral Assistance Division, DPPA; Dan Malinovich, Electoral Policy Specialist; Amanda Stark, Political Affairs Officer, Asia and the Pacific Division, DPPA-DPO; and Mikyong Kim, Political/Electoral Affairs Officer, Electoral Assistance Division, DPPA.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in the official Launching Ceremony of the RMIT-UGC joint research program held today (Oct 02) at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo.

This official Launching Ceremony is a collaborative value designing between RMIT University of Australia and University Grants Commission (UGC) for Doctoral Training aiming to training young academics of Sri Lanka by bridging knowledge, advancing research and innovation along with nurturing future readers. The program is conducted in partnership with the University of Peradeniya, University of Moratuwa, University of Ruhuna, and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

On this occasion, 30 scholarships were awarded to the students for Doctoral Training.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya commended the significance of this partnership with RMIT in strengthening the capacity of academics and researchers, and underscored the government’s need for active contribution of researchers, academics, practitioners, and experts to effectively addressing the critical areas the country is currently facing.

The Prime Minister further emphasized the importance of moving beyond traditional approaches and adopting more interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary strategies. The Prime Minister urged the academics who received the scholarships today to take up leadership in guiding the country toward sustainable and inclusive development.

The event was attended by the Acting High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Lalita Kapur, Chairman of UGC, Senior Professor Kapila Seneviratne, Vice Chairman of UGC, RMIT Representatives, Chancellors, vice Chancellors, deans of Universities,Members of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, officials of UGC and academics.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in the closing ceremony of the Symposium on Climate Action 2025 held at Shangri-La, Colombo, on 1st October 2025.

The two-day Climate Action Symposium 2025 (CAS) was facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation in collaboration with the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP) and UNDP Sri Lanka. The seven-year project, known as වැව්ගම් පුබුදුව (Wewgam Pubuduwa), aims to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in the Dry Zone to climate variability and extreme events, covering seven project districts with the support of the Green Climate Fund. The theme for CAS 2025 was “Integrated Resource Management for Climate Resilience: Transforming Communities and Shaping Policies.”

The symposium brought together professionals from agriculture (crops, livestock, poultry, aquaculture), drinking water, meteorology, disaster management, and environmental sciences from across Sri Lanka, creating a collaborative platform to advance development and academic discourse on water and climate resilience.

It also provided a timely opportunity to highlight and publicize the important lessons and research evidence identified from the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP) and research work with direct relevance to policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners, with the academic partnership of the University of Peradeniya.

Delivering the keynote address, the Prime Minister stressed the need for scaled-up climate finance under the new National Climate Finance Strategy 2025–2030. She further outlined priority areas, including rural development, climate-smart agriculture, ecosystem restoration, disaster preparedness, and green growth. The Prime Minister called for collective action to translate symposium insights into national policies and community-level solutions, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s efforts serve as a model for global climate resilience.

The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, Mr. Susil Ranasinghe; Resident Representative for UNDP, Ms. Asuza Kubota; Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri; National Project Director, Mr. Chandana Edirisooriya; officials, academics, and professionals in the field.

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The Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations were held at Temple Trees on 2nd October 2025, to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The event was attended by the Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, together with the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha.

As part of the commemoration, a flower garlanding ceremony was conducted before the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, paying tribute to his enduring legacy of peace, non-violence, and humanity.

The ceremony was attended by officials of the Indian High Commission and senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Office, reflecting the significance of the occasion and the longstanding cultural and historical ties between Sri Lanka and India.

Prime Minister’s Media Division