Sri Lanka to launch new sexuality education programme in March

Ministry of Education officials stated that arrangements have been made to launch new educational publications compiled to provide education on sexuality from the pre-childhood development stage to the adult community, on the 7th of March 2024.

This was stated when the Parliamentary Caucus for Children chaired by Member of Parliament Rohini Kumari Wijerathna met in Parliament recently, the Communications Department of Parliament said in a statement today.

The officials stated that research has confirmed that these educational publications on sexuality have been prepared with the primary objective of improving the limited knowledge of people pertaining to sexuality education, which is the basis of many concerns in Sri Lanka.

These educational publications have been prepared to suit from preschool children to 13th grade up to the adult community. Officials expressing views before the Caucus stated that these sexuality education publications have been compiled by experts in the respective fields under the full supervision and approval of the Ministers of Education and Health.

Under the first phase, these sexuality education publications are proposed to be provided as E publications, the release said. Accordingly, the officials emphasized that by formally imparting knowledge about sexuality to all age groups in the society, many crises emerging in the society can be alleviated and children can be made safer by way of the said.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Members of Parliament Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Eran Wickramaratne, K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Imran Maharoof and officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health were present at the Committee meeting held.