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Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam expressing his views at the budget debate stated in Parliament that the government has increased the salaries of 1.5 million government servants more than two fold.

Education Minister stated salaries of government servants have been increased in two fold with out adding allowances and also have allocated money to increase the salaries of pensioners in a considerable amount. 

 Explaining further about this Minister stated the in 2015 salary of a OES/KKS was Rs.11,730 and has been now increased up to Rs. 24,250 salary of a Driver was Rs. Rs.12,430 in 2015 and now has been increased up to Rs.25,790 and salary of a Management Assistant in 2015 was only Rs.13,990 and now has been increased up to Rs.28,940

 Also Minister of Education explained in 2015 the salary of a Police      Constable was Rs. 14 280 and new has been increased up to Rs.29,540 salary of a Technical Officer  was Rs. 14,425 in 2015 and now increased up to 29,840 salary of an Interim Medical Staff  was Rs.15,080 in 2015 and now has been increased up to Rs. 31,190 , salary of Nurse Staff  was Rs,15620 in 2015 and now increased up to Rs. 32,525.

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam further stated the government has taken steps to increase the salary of a Development Officer up to Rs. 31,490 from Rs.15,215 which had been in 2015 ,salary of a Graduate Teacher was Rs. 16,120 in 2015 and now has been increased up to Rs. 33,330. The salary of an Executive Officer was only Rs.22,935 in 2015 and now has been increased to Rs. 47,615 the salary of a Medical Officer was only Rs. 25,515 in  2015 and now increased up to Rs.52,955 and a Secretary drew only Rs. 47,515 in 2015 where as now has been increased up to Rs. 98,650.

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam stated in Parliament while taking necessary steps to increase the salaries steps have been taken to reduce prices of essential goods which directly affect the day to day life of people. Taking an example the Minister said a liter  of a kerosene oil was Rs. 81 as at 05-12-2014 and has been reduced to Rs.70 at present. Domestic LP Gas cylinder has been reduced to Rs. 1,671 from Rs.2,396 at in 2014 other than that minister stated that  prices of petrol and diesel be still lower than the prices which was on 05-12-2014.

pura 4The Archaelogical Advisory Committee which met yesterday (10) decided that the Dambulla Cave Temples should be closed temporarily for foreign tourists in view of the urgent restoration works. In this connection, a media briefing was issued by us and it highlighted that it was the decision was committee. Taking a decision and its implementation are two different things. Accordingly the Archaelogical Advisory Committee’s decision is not yet implemented.
Accordingly, the Archaelogical Advisory Committee decided that the responsibility of issue of tickets for the foreign tourists lie with the Central Cultural Fund under the powers vested in it, under the Central Cultural Fund, under the Archaelogical Act, Central Cultural Fund Act, Vihare Temples Act .The decision arrived at the Archaelogical Advisory Committee has to be intimated to the Dambulla Temple authorities and a proper decision had to be arrived as soon as possible along with them after due consultations. The Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs Mr. Nimal Kotawalagedera and Hon. Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam were directed upon to coordinate in this matter. Accordingly, in the near future, the members of the Archaelogical Advsiory Committee and religious authorities of the Dambulla Vihare Tample will meet and assess the existing situation and tke into consideration and decide upon the final decision on the recommendations of the Archaelogical Advisory Committee

“The steps will be taken in the future to finalize all conducting affairs of the Ordinary Level Examination within the month of December – Action will be taken to increase the allowance for scripts marking examiners also” – The Minister of Education AkilaVirajKariyawasam

The Minister of Education AkilaVirajKariyawasam says that the decision taken to direct the school children to use the free school textbooks given to them by the government at least for a period of two years is a decision taken in good faith. The minister stated this when he participated today (11) in the national function of textbooks distribution held at D.S. Senanayaka College, Colombo.

20155865 10155641177854060 1792689698903562110 nIt is envisaged that the World Youth Buddhist Sanga Sabha will celebrate its 14thSummit in Sri Lanka.The organizing committee for this summit is being chaired by Minister of Education and he held a special discussion today (19) at the ‘ape gama’ premises regarding the organizing details. It is planned that this summit to be held from 27th to 30th October at the BMICH, Palleke Provincial Council Auditorium and Galewela Millavana Mahavidyalaya.

The Theravada, Mahayana, Thanthrayana, Vajirayana and Zen Buddhist young clergy comprising about 1000 would attend this summit to be held in Sri Lanka for the third time. From the first summit held in Nepal in 2004, this continued to be held in Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, USA.Necessary work was done with the assistance of the young monks of this summit in missionary work as well as developing Buddhist vihares, It is noteworthy that all work of the summit would be in the village atmosphere instead of cities at the suggestion of the Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.

All arrangements are being made for the plenary sittings of the summit to be held at Millevana Maha Vidyalaya with  the Hon. President and Hon. Prime Minister as chief guests. The Minister has instructed relevant authorities to develop the Millevana Maha Vidayalaya to cater to these needs.20156006 10155641177844060 5381070095858888335 n20228967 10155641177814060 5486326713977349716 n

pu 1The Archaelogical Advisory Board met today (10) under the chairmanship of Minister of Education, Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. A number of projects under Central Cultural Fund including preservation of architectural heritage, Buddhist Temple preservation were taken up for lengthy discussions.
Currently discussed topic of frescoes of Dambulla Cave Temple and erosion of Buddhist statues were taken up for deep discussion and attention, while the expert report of national and international preservation specialists were taken up.The ICOMOS and UNESCO reports, report by archaeological fresco expert Dr. Wernor Smith, reports of local experts were studied in depth. Accordingly, it was noted that the Dambulla Cave Temple complex that is identified to be deteriorating fast , preservation work should be started.

dengu· Special overall clean up program in schools to be carried out when they are closed for holidays
· Minister of Education instructs officials to carry out programs without hindrance to the examinations to be held.
With an objective of eradicating the dengue fever spreading fast throughout the country, a series of operations are being carried out at school levels at the instructions of the Hon. Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.Accordingly, three days viz. July 28 Friday, 29 Saturday and 30 Sunday an operation to eradicate dengue is being carried out in the schools and their environs. All steps are being taken to carry out the necessary operations and the principals of schools are properly instructed by a special circular issued. On 28th Friday, it is intended that teaching activities in schools will not be held and instead, the society at large including the students, parents, teachers, past pupils and neighbours would be engaged to clean up the schools and their environs with the help of the Ministry of Health.
The students are expected to come to school in a proper attire to carry out the Shramadana work.In addition, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th too are to be days on which the Shramadana is to be carried out to eradicate the dengue. The principals are duty bound to coordinate with the health officials to engage in smoking out and carry out other activities to destroy the mosquitos In addition, a special cleaning up activity is to be widely carried out in schools during the school holidays Accordingly every Sunday of the week, the school environment should be cleaned and by the time the third term starts the clean up program is to be completed. Such instructions are already given to the principals.The responsibility of all these activities are laid on the Provincial Education officials. The elders should educate their children the habit of keeping their home gardens and the schools clean. In order to promote this, it is the duty of everyone to instruct the children about waste management systems, and the need to avoid creation mosquito breeding grounds.
The Minister of Education has instructed the officials to see that it should be noted that all the implementation of all these activities should not disturb the GCE A/L and Grade V scholarship examinations.

fgIt is regrettable that at a time when attempts are made within the framework of law to protect the Buddhist heritage that are on the veritage of collapse, some elements are making baseless allegation amongst the society for their personal gains.
It is clear that they are attempting to gain back the power they had lost by stirring up Buddhist aspirations of the people. It is clear that they want to sidetrack the public attention from their past records of corruption, malpractice etc that they engaged in.

st 1In order to keep pace with a fast changing world, in the interests of our future generations, certain decisions are made and if attempts to criticize and malign should be stopped and they should positively react so that we can carry out the development in a speedier manner – Hon. Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.

Especially, media, trade unions should bring out the people to meet the challenges he continued.

The Minister expressed this opinion today (10) when he was called upon to lay the foundation stone for the sports complex and opening of Smart Classroom, for St. Paul’s Balika Vidyalaya, Milagiriya.

He reminded that while some people opposed the project under which Tab computers are being given to the students, the plan under which Hon. Prime Minister introduced computers to schools when he was the Minister of Education. The whole country benefitted by this. Refusal to change towards better could spell disaster, he continued.

From September, a program by which, the Advanced Level students would be given a Tab computer, broad 13 year education system and introduction of 26 new subjects for A/L would be introduced, the Minister continued.

In order to face the global challenges the parents, teachers etc would voluntarily change their old way of thinking and embrace modern methods, the minister said.

National Schools Director Jayantha Wickremanayake and others were associated with him in this function.st 2st 3st 4st 5st 6st 7st 8st 9st 10st 11st 12st 14

libryIt is the international view that each student at a school requires a minimum of ten book for reading. With this purpose, the Minister of Education, Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has instructed his officials to increase the number of books available for the students by 50%. As a step towards achieving this objective, steps are being taken to obtain additional books for 3200 schools under the “Nearest school is the best school” program at a cost of Rs. 700 million.

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