Colombo — Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has voiced concern over what he described as an “inappropriate sexual education program” being prepared for inclusion in Sri Lanka’s school curriculum next year.
Speaking at the reopening of the renovated St. Stephen’s Church in the Meerigama–Kinadeniya area, Cardinal Ranjith said the initiative, set to begin in January under planned education reforms, is being developed under the influence of international organizations.
He said the new curriculum aims to introduce sexual education from Grade 6, with teachers being trained and seminars organized. “Is this really education? Isn’t it the parents’ responsibility to teach such matters to their children at the right time?” he said.
The Cardinal alleged that the program includes lessons on same-sex relationships and birth control, which he claimed are backed by foreign entities such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). “They have given money to the government and the Education Ministry, printed books, and are now implementing a plan that misleads our children,” he said.
He warned that the program is scheduled to start on January 27 and said it could undermine the country’s cultural and moral values. “This is an attempt to destroy our children. They are trying to bring the values of a decayed Western world that has lost religion and morality into our country,” he said.
Cardinal Ranjith urged the government to halt the planned lessons and appealed to the President to prevent ministry officials from advancing such programs. “If the Ministry of Education is acting in ways that lead innocent children astray, we must completely reject it,” he added. (Newswire)