Catholic Church raises school issues and X-Press Pearl concerns with Government
A discussion between Government officials and representatives of the Catholic Church was held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo yesterday (August 13), focusing on issues affecting Government-managed Catholic schools, religious education and the continuing impact of the X-Press Pearl disaster.
The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of Science and Technology Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The discussion reviewed administrative issues affecting Catholic schools that were taken over by the Government and the need for a mechanism to provide teaching staff for Catholic religious studies.
The progress made in recruiting Catholic priests, nuns and brothers to the teaching profession was also reviewed.
Discussions also focused on obtaining the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration and functioning of Government-managed Catholic schools.
Speaking at the meeting, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith expressed appreciation, on behalf of the Catholic Church, to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for holding discussions with representatives of the Catholic Church three times a year.
Cardinal Ranjith also stressed the need for the Government to continue investigating the damage caused to Sri Lanka’s maritime zone by the X-Press Pearl disaster.
He said his aspiration was to ensure that all students, without discrimination, have the opportunity to learn and practise their respective religions. He also stressed the need to address the challenges currently affecting the education sector.
Bishops Harold Anthony Perera, Wimal Siri Jayasuriya and Maxwell Silva, together with other members of the Catholic clergy, participated in the meeting.
Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Education (School Affairs) W. A. Neelika Perera and several other officials also attended the discussion.