Catholic Church and Government Discuss Administration of State-Managed Catholic Schools
A discussion between representatives of the Catholic Church and the Government was held at the Presidential Secretariat, focusing on issues affecting Catholic schools taken over by the Government.
The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of Science and Technology Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), discussions focused on administrative issues affecting Government-managed Catholic schools, establishing a mechanism to provide teaching staff for Catholic religious studies, and progress in recruiting Catholic priests, nuns and brothers to the teaching profession.
The participants also discussed mechanisms to obtain 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 Church representatives three times a year, the PMD said.
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, while also stressing the need to address challenges affecting the education sector.
Members of the Catholic Church, including Their Lordships Bishops Harold Anthony Perera, Wimal Siri Jayasuriya and Maxwell Silva, along 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 were also present.
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