Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, has expressed strong opposition to a set of education reforms introduced by the government, claiming they strip parents of their fundamental rights regarding their children’s upbringing.

The Cardinal made these remarks while attending a ceremony yesterday at St. Joseph’s Church in Pahathgama, Hanwella. He raised concerns over a recently developed sex education curriculum, which he claims introduces “abnormalities” to students starting from the age of six.

Addressing the congregation, the Cardinal stated that various programmes currently active in society are threatening the stability of married life. He argued that the Ministry of Education’s new curriculum suggests to children that certain behaviours are acceptable, thereby overriding the traditional authority of parents.

“We cannot accept an educational reform system that has snatched these rights away from parents,” he said. “In Sri Lanka, we possess an inherited culture, a civilisation, and a stream of values shaped by the principles of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. There is an established framework of social norms and laws regarding marriage, sex, and the upbringing of children.”

The Archbishop further cautioned political leaders against compromising the nation’s cultural heritage for financial aid. He suggested that external influences from international bodies, such as the United Nations and its various agencies, are pushing “erroneous attitudes” onto Sri Lankan society in exchange for funding.

“If we betray our principles simply because we receive money from the Western world, then no government has the right to rule this country,” he remarked. “We must tell all political leaders: please do only what falls within your remit. Do not interfere in matters that do not belong to you.”

The Cardinal concluded by stating that while children certainly have human rights, these rights should not be used to turn children against their parents or destroy the religious and cultural foundations of the family. He emphasised that the relationship between parents and children should remain rooted in love and mutual respect rather than a system that encourages disobedience.