Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith alleged that children were being misled through what he described as an “inappropriate form of sex education” proposed for Sri Lanka’s school curriculum. He alleged that international organisations were influencing upcoming education reforms expected to take effect in January next year.

He made these remarks while attending the opening ceremony of the renovated St Stephan’s Church in the Meerigama–Keendeniya area.

Cardinal Ranjith said preparations were underway to introduce new lessons on sex education from Grade 6, with plans to train teachers and conduct workshops ahead of implementation. He questioned whether such content belonged in the school system and insisted that parents, not teachers, held the responsibility for educating children on sensitive matters at the appropriate time.

He further claimed that the proposed curriculum would include material on same-sex relationships and birth control, which he said was part of a broader agenda by international organisations. He singled out the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), alleging it was funding the government and the Ministry of Education to print books and support a programme he said would “mislead children.”

Cardinal Ranjith said lessons were scheduled to be introduced from 27 January in government schools, starting with Grade 6. He warned that such reforms would harm Sri Lankan children and accused the state of attempting to import values from what he described as a “decaying Western world.”

He urged the government to stop the initiative and called on the President to intervene, saying Sri Lanka must protect its culture and civilisation from influences that run contrary to local values.