Government, Catholic Church discuss issues affecting Catholic schools

A discussion with representatives of the Catholic Church was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (13), co-chaired by Minister of Science and Technology Mr. Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The meeting reviewed the administrative issues affecting Catholic schools that were taken over by the Government, the development of a mechanism for providing teaching staff for Catholic religious studies and the progress made in recruiting Catholic priests, nuns and brothers to the teaching profession.

Discussions also focused on mechanisms for obtaining the support of the Ministry of Education in the administration and functioning of Government-managed Catholic schools.

Addressing the meeting, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith expressed appreciation, on behalf of the Catholic Church, to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for holding discussions with the Catholic Church three times a year. His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith also emphasised the need for the Government to continue investigating the damage caused to Sri Lanka’s maritime zone by the X-Press Pearl disaster.

He further stated that his aspiration was to ensure that all students, without discrimination, have the opportunity to learn and practise their respective religions and stressed the need to address the challenges currently affecting the education sector.

Members of the Catholic Church, including Their Lordships Bishops Harold Anthony Perera, Wimal Siri Jayasuriya and Maxwell Silva, together with other members of the 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.