Politicians need qualifications - Welgama

8 April 2011 12:02 pm - 93 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The GCE Ordinary Level as minimum educational qualifications is a prerequisite for employment as a sanitary labourer but qualifications in any kind are irrelevant to become a minister in Sri Lanka, said Transport Minister Kumara Welgama.

Participating as the chief guest at the 53rd annual convention of Railway Guards’ Union at the Mt. Mary Hall at Dematagoda, Minister Welgama said a majority of ministers would not have been in Parliament today if educational qualifications were made mandatory to contest a parliamentary seat.

“It is a fact that railway employees are an uncontended lot because they do not get their promotions and salary increases properly. Promotions cannot be granted as there are no new recruitments. The minimum qualification for a labourer is GCE O/L today but in the past it was grade 8. Therefore, it has become extremely difficult to provide employments to under educated youth in the village,” Minister Welgama stressed.

Elaborating further on the vacancies in the Sri Lanka Railways, Minister Welgama pointed out that there are only 270 Railway Guards when the minimum cadre is 682.

Higher educational qualifications are necessary to become a Railway Guard. Not a single Railway Guard has been recruited in the last few years. The level of qualifications must be lowered to give opportunities to the youths in the periphery to get employment in the Sri Lanka Railways, he said. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 93

palitha Saturday, 09 April 2011 05:05 AM

Any one can give list of these people please.

uglytruth Saturday, 09 April 2011 07:13 AM

looks like we are goin to miss most of politicians

kevin Saturday, 09 April 2011 06:50 AM

Yes Minister, We are supporting and we are behind you if you take initiatives to enact legislation for this. We do not know whether the President will allow this to happen. We want our members in the supreme parliament to be well educated and well disciplined people, not like people who are behaving like thugs and disrespecting dignity of others. Good to hear that you just talk about this issue at least.

Guru Saturday, 09 April 2011 07:02 AM

It has taken you so long to understand this simple thing. Do you think that GCE (OL) is enough!!!!!!! Think again.

Balaya Saturday, 09 April 2011 06:39 AM

If some one can create a web site to see educational qualification of our politicians. It will be a great help to general public to use their valuable votes in proper way without voting for beech boys to become ministers in our country.

Citizen Saturday, 09 April 2011 06:27 AM

The Minister realizes that some of our or perhaps most of our MPs and Ministers are NOT QUALIFIED even to be a Sanitary Labourer! Well said, Mr. Minister. Expose them all!

Yehiya-Doha Saturday, 09 April 2011 05:41 AM

Not only Dr. Mhindananda,

citizen1 Saturday, 09 April 2011 05:53 AM

a new discovery for the good minister!

citizen1 Saturday, 09 April 2011 05:52 AM

On the contrary, all the concerned ministers will be given honorary doctorates to make it ok! That's the advanced political system for you!

citizen1 Saturday, 09 April 2011 05:50 AM

The current breed are mutants.

citizen1 Saturday, 09 April 2011 05:49 AM

The good doctor is in a category of his own! His qualifications are off the charts.

w.g.l Saturday, 09 April 2011 05:22 AM

now only you all rememberer this thins now to late all thugs in the parliament cheer up

Sri Minnal Saturday, 09 April 2011 07:15 AM

What our politicians need today is good behaviour, working for the people and the country. Sadly our politicians from the top to bottom are working for themselves and their families.

Top Sri Lankan Saturday, 09 April 2011 04:57 AM

Elaris, You are right.

theja345 Saturday, 09 April 2011 04:55 AM

Actually we all have aright to see what their qualiifications are in public. maybe that may have a bearing upon their perfeormance?

Darwin Saturday, 09 April 2011 03:42 AM

Guess the man has only OL qualification. Better than the doctor.

LIMA Saturday, 09 April 2011 03:24 AM

tonto correctly said , well done

Rajitha Saturday, 09 April 2011 03:36 AM

obviously not.. he's got a phd remember? lol

yav Saturday, 09 April 2011 03:33 AM

So, Is this going to be implemented soon?
NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonto Saturday, 09 April 2011 02:53 AM

Well, Minister of Transport, with your comment it can be taken that most of the so called Ministers are not suitable to perform even as sanitary laborers - you just kicked an own goal.

kolla Saturday, 09 April 2011 02:55 AM

You are damn correct !!!

politico Saturday, 09 April 2011 02:13 AM

I do have.Led 2 distressful election rallies.

winnie Saturday, 09 April 2011 02:06 AM

Why there are former Beach boys you know who?

Nihal Fernando Saturday, 09 April 2011 02:19 AM

"Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary." Robert Louis Stevenson

Calistus Jayatilleke Saturday, 09 April 2011 09:26 AM

Well, this is how it goes.
Most "First Class" students get technical seats, some become Doctors and some Engineers.
The "Second Class" pass, and then pass MBA, become administrators and control the "first group"
The "Third Class" pass, join politics and become Ministers and control both.
Last, but not least, the "failures" join the Underworld and control all the above groups.

Aru Sunday, 10 April 2011 08:54 AM

We have Pathala Archaryas. Kottu Roti Archaryas, Roopa Lavanya Archaryas. What more do you want??? I pity the poor University Archaryas.

citizen1 Sunday, 10 April 2011 07:29 AM

This is the fate of our nation!! Great analysis.

Kit Nuwaragal Saturday, 09 April 2011 04:58 PM

A web site??? No computer Gilmart please.

Kit Nuwaragal Saturday, 09 April 2011 04:41 PM

Mr. Minister You are walking on thin ice.

TAKA Saturday, 09 April 2011 04:02 PM

Dutugemunu De Silva has got all the qualifications to take part in politics

Professor Wickramati Saturday, 09 April 2011 03:23 PM

Delayed Thomian!

Professor Wickramati Saturday, 09 April 2011 03:23 PM

True true, as you have to move with OL-less kudu karayas, thugs, criminals, womanizers and rif rafs

ampare son Saturday, 09 April 2011 12:05 PM

fortunaitly lot of politician dont know english. otherwise they goint to make us lunumiris.

I Hussein Saturday, 09 April 2011 10:51 AM

WOW - Brilliant thinking and so true.

vat jaya Saturday, 09 April 2011 10:37 AM

sadly we going to miss film stars and cricketers.

vat hora Saturday, 09 April 2011 10:34 AM

coming color not good . anarkali nangi. paba akka. ranjan ayya, sanath malli get stick.

Budding Politician Saturday, 09 April 2011 02:12 AM

Why, Honourable doctorates?.

Asoka Saturday, 09 April 2011 09:19 AM

leave alone passing, they have not gone any where near the grade 10. Most of them are school drop outs. Only qualified to rob and they are doing it at grand national scale.

Asoka Saturday, 09 April 2011 09:18 AM

sanitary labourer has to do a job but for corruption, thieving and day light robbery you don't need any qualifications but just propaganda to get elected before going on thieving spree for the elected term.

Indika Saturday, 09 April 2011 09:08 AM

No! It's about " hatha pass" Johny...

Outspoken Saturday, 09 April 2011 09:05 AM

If you are wel educated , you will never , ever joint in politics in sri lanka in particular. You will need these qualifications if you wanna joint in politics, Thuggery,lie,corruption,promises will not be fulfilled, power greedy, Etc. An educated person will not select this job i presume.

Calistus Jayatilleke Saturday, 09 April 2011 08:43 AM

Does it mean we will soon see all the politicians working as sanitary laborers?. Also, one wonders if any educational qualification, even at elementary level, is required for a politician to be conferred a Doctorate!

Nihal Saturday, 09 April 2011 08:32 AM

SIR, Where have you been all these years, you should have saved this country from many levels if you said these GOLDEN WORDS much much earlier. anyway better late than never

Suneth Saturday, 09 April 2011 08:09 AM

Intelligent and educated are two different things. We need intelligent leader backed by an educated government. Will that be realised with current voters

Nature Saturday, 09 April 2011 08:04 AM

then they'll treat examination dept & get fake certicates as they hv power.

Sam.Samarasinghe Saturday, 09 April 2011 07:46 AM

Be careful, majority in the cabinet will bring a no confidence motion against you! Politickka

SWEUROPE Saturday, 09 April 2011 07:59 AM

AT LEAST THEY HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL, WHEN IT RAINS OUT SIDE :-))))

Yehiya-Doha Friday, 08 April 2011 02:28 PM

This is very important. Law makers must need the qulification.Most of the ministers not having subject knowledge.

lokka Friday, 08 April 2011 04:37 PM

Hikzzzzzzzz....

Miliband Friday, 08 April 2011 04:19 PM

Who are the cabinet members do not have GCE O/L at least 5 subjects??

Professor Wickramati Friday, 08 April 2011 04:02 PM

Well done!! OL is not enough, politicians should have at least A Level. This Old Thomian minister talks sense. But no fake Doctorate please!!

MagodisThuma Friday, 08 April 2011 03:40 PM

Yes...Need qualifications...
Must be able to put the Finger Print !.

Anura Dante Friday, 08 April 2011 03:44 PM

Well, Give PH.D's to all those politicians who have not even completed the 5th Grade. Then they will be qualified to be a POlitician!

Fayad Friday, 08 April 2011 03:41 PM

A/L with minimum 3 passes

MI Friday, 08 April 2011 03:23 PM

Is this for Mervyn Silva.....

sudu putha Friday, 08 April 2011 03:15 PM

Well quote. But Why

Senior Citizen Friday, 08 April 2011 02:53 PM

It is indeed sad that politicos are uneducated. In singapore you need to be graduate to be a minister. Here beachboys and CWE weight checkers are Ministers.

sureshp Friday, 08 April 2011 02:41 PM

It may be news to you. We have known it all along. Why dont you say that in parliament.

Samyrajah Selvarajah Friday, 08 April 2011 02:51 PM

Minister Welgama; Best idea ever thought. Congratulations.
God bless you for your thought. If you take vote in Parliament,
you might loose.

Malik Friday, 08 April 2011 04:38 PM

All the educated people are not rich and all the un educated are not poor but the Minster and there family will be never poor for till next life.Any way good luck for next Parliament for all the Minster.You all will have good place in hell for lieing.

Silva Friday, 08 April 2011 01:39 PM

The Politician will buy the Qualification. Or Make it using the current technology.

Elaris Friday, 08 April 2011 12:47 PM

In addition to academic qualifications, they must come from a good stock.

Aruna Jayawardane Friday, 08 April 2011 12:47 PM

What qualifications that you recommend sir? Grade V or VIII..?

Ara Friday, 08 April 2011 12:57 PM

Well said Minister, but some who are not fit enough to be even sanitory labourers and have no qualifications have got honorary PhDs!

Tom Friday, 08 April 2011 12:52 PM

How about Doctorates?

Chamalka Friday, 08 April 2011 12:34 PM

Well said Mr.Welgama . U r one of the very few capable politicians in the country .

iam Friday, 08 April 2011 12:43 PM

what for?

thala Friday, 08 April 2011 12:30 PM

Like...
BSc in Thuggery
MBA in Robbery

Ranjan Abeysekera Friday, 08 April 2011 12:34 PM

Finally some one has realized the value of education to become a minister. Hope the president will keep this in mind for the next constitution change.

NADARAJAH SETHURUPAN Friday, 08 April 2011 12:33 PM

Need skills and qualifications to be a politician and Police.

Saman Friday, 08 April 2011 10:39 PM

Yes I do agree with you. See what a qualification Minister of Sports has. Not even GCE(O/L)

Guru4U Saturday, 09 April 2011 01:41 AM

You need to use quotation marks when you quote words directly.

Godaya Saturday, 09 April 2011 01:28 AM

All MPs should have minimum A/L and the Ministers should have a Degree in the relevant field. I bet 90% of these fellows will go unempoyed!

citizen1 Saturday, 09 April 2011 01:39 AM

Duh?!!

perera Saturday, 09 April 2011 01:18 AM

as if the fools that we are did not know that.
did this just realise this mind boggling situation.

onlooker Saturday, 09 April 2011 12:07 AM

Most of these guys curently there have not passed even even GCE O Level..

global citizen Friday, 08 April 2011 11:41 PM

we dont need poor man frend. game kolla or golden heart. we need educate man for country.

polatha Friday, 08 April 2011 11:24 PM

how about acters and cricketers.

Nj Friday, 08 April 2011 11:30 PM

It's true. So u guys going to implement this?

Not really..... Right?

ampare son Friday, 08 April 2011 10:59 PM

thank you so much sir. sri lanken voters motto should be educate politician.

Felix Friday, 08 April 2011 10:42 PM

This is the true position. Many Ministers may not have even JSC or the 8th Standard. Constitution must be amended to include minimum qualifications to contest Parliament.

Felix

GoTit Friday, 08 April 2011 10:40 PM

level of qualifications must be lowered to give opportunities is the way to destroy the dream of thousands of educated youths.
miracle of Asia !!

NADARAJAH SETHURUPAN Friday, 08 April 2011 12:32 PM

truth.

shiromi Friday, 08 April 2011 10:21 PM

Well said Sir! but be careful you might have to tender your resignation.

DSR-Neckar Friday, 08 April 2011 09:32 PM

To become a politician, one needs pig's mouth and donkey's back ( URU HOTYI, BURU PITAYI). No need any academic qualification at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YURI Friday, 08 April 2011 09:18 PM

Oh Oh.... Stop... what you trying to say... When you have GCE then you start to think, If you think you cant be in Politics.. sorry next time

Elaris Friday, 08 April 2011 09:15 PM

Breed is more important than qualifications

Pan Friday, 08 April 2011 07:58 PM

They can their Doctoral qualifications after they become politicians, like the 'good' Doctor!

kumara Friday, 08 April 2011 07:43 PM

Are you talking about Dr Mervine silva.

Nina Kamal Friday, 08 April 2011 07:43 PM

Anney apoi rata giya kalak!!!

Colombo Craw Friday, 08 April 2011 05:57 PM

So let's not ask education qualification for any profession then...

AMI Friday, 08 April 2011 05:11 PM

How about a doctorate in ????? you know?

haseeb Friday, 08 April 2011 05:08 PM

Well Done Kumar Welgama, at least you thought about it and ensured to us that u have passed the GCE O/L

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Politicians need qualifications - Welgama

Comments - 93

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

April 15 declared a government holiday

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Wild elephants pull down 16 telephone poles

Middleman arrested for price gouging at Kalutara eatery

Bondholders’ agreement delay won’t hinder IMF third tranche payout: Dr. Coomaraswamy

Party leaders to shoot down MPs request for concessionary duty free vehicle permits

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings