Sri Lanka’s Cardinal Ranjith blasts sex ed from Grade 6 as foreign-imposed “degraded values”; govt cites child abuse surge to justify 2026 rollout.
Newsroom (10/11/2025 Gaudium Press ) Sri Lanka’s influential Catholic Church and civic groups are mounting fierce opposition to a government plan to introduce sex education starting in Grade Six, accusing authorities of bowing to foreign pressure and undermining the nation’s cultural and religious fabric.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, delivered a scathing critique on November 8 at St. Stephen’s Church in Keenadeniya village, Gampaha district. He charged that the curriculum, slated for implementation in January 2026, promotes family planning and same-sex relationships under the sway of international bodies, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
“The government is now getting ready with teachers and textbooks to teach sex education to children from Grade Six. Some organizations are trying to destroy the cultural and moral foundations of our country,” Cardinal Ranjith declared, labeling the initiative an import of “degraded values of a Western world without religion.”
The Education Ministry countered that the syllabus will emphasize reproductive health and bodily autonomy, not controversial social issues. The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs pointed to alarming statistics—more than 15,000 reported child abuse cases in 2024 alone—as urgent justification for the reforms.
Critics, however, condemned the process as opaque and externally driven. F.E. Dias, president of Cultura Vitae, warned that early exposure risks “corrupting children” and fostering “values-free promiscuity education,” while tying the changes to broader agendas advancing abortion rights and LGBTQ inclusion.
Palitha Uditha of Family Care Solidarity told UCA News the reforms were “rushed under pressure from international lenders,” alleging ties to International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding conditions. “Neither parents nor teachers were meaningfully consulted. Any reform on sexual education should be transparent and culturally grounded,” Uditha said.
Some activists echoed claims that global institutions are leveraging financial aid to enforce curriculum shifts incorporating sex education and LGBTQ rights.
Prime Minister and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya defended the program on November 9, framing it as a protective measure. “The Ministry of Health and the Child Protection Authority have repeatedly said sex education is necessary as child sexual abuse is increasing and children must be taught how to protect their bodies,” she stated.
Support also emerged from within the education sector. Nuwani Sudarshi, a government schoolteacher in Wennappuwa, told UCA News the curriculum could curb abuse and misinformation. “Children need to be guided at the right age to understand the changes in their body and to look after themselves safely and confidently,” she said.
As the January 2026 rollout approaches, the clash highlights deepening tensions between state modernization efforts and traditionalist forces in Sri Lanka’s post-crisis recovery landscape.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
Related Images:
