In a powerful address to Parliament, NPP MP Kaushalya Ariyaratne shed light on the ongoing challenges facing schools, where poor infrastructure and neglected resources continue to affect the quality of education. From substandard buildings to unsanitary conditions, Ariyaratne painted a grim picture of how thousands of students remain vulnerable due to inadequate facilities.

“There are low-quality buildings in ten schools in the Kaduwela area alone,” the MP noted, stressing the urgent need for action. As the debate surrounding school safety intensified, Ariyaratne’s comments called for immediate attention and comprehensive solutions to ensure children’s well-being.

But, the issues don’t end with the physical state of the schools. Ariyaratne highlighted a serious gap in sanitation facilities, with many schools lacking proper drinking water and toilet facilities. “We speak about period poverty in this time and era, but unfortunately, many girls’ schools lack proper facilities for sanitary napkin disposal,” she said, emphasising how these basic needs continue to be overlooked.

On top of this, Ariyaratne brought attention to another critical concern: the government’s failure to make use of 1,000 smart boards, valued at Rs 1.5 billion, which have been gathering dust in a warehouse since February 2024. Despite being a gift from the Chinese Government, the boards remain unused due to a lack of technical support, leaving many to question why such resources are going to waste. As discussions continue on how to utilise these smart boards effectively, the MP is calling for a concerted effort to stop these missed opportunities and make meaningful changes in the education sector.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said, a number of infrastructure projects have already been implemented in schools. Since 2016, under the “Nearest School is the Best School” programme initiated by the previous government, many initiatives have been undertaken. However, even today, some of the unfinished and unsafe buildings are located in schools. Many schools have impressive gates, fences, and signboards, but once you went inside, the students do not have proper facilities. Some of the schools are not processed by clean drinking water including basic sanitation facilities. Therefore, an amount of Rs 11,000 billion has been allocated to complete these unfinished school projects, with a special focus on sanitation facilities.

Starting this year, we are committed to ensuring that no Sri Lankan child has to attend a school without proper sanitation facilities. We have also allocated Rs. 11.126 billion through the line ministry and Rs 14.896 billion through Provincial Councils to address these issues in estate schools.