The Archbishop of Colombo has told Sri Lanka’s Education Minister that several current history and geography textbooks contain defamatory remarks against the Pope, Catholics and the Church. “This is an attempt to create disharmony among the religious communities,” Archbishop Ranjith told Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana when the latter paid him a courtesy visit on June 24, ucanews.com reports.
“It is an attempt to instill very insulting and defamatory concepts in the minds of the students and also to discredit the government,” the archbishop continued.
He urged the Minister to initiate a review of the texts by an interfaith committee.
“Many complaints from principals and teachers in history and geography prompted the archbishop to raise the matter with the Minister of Education,” Father Ivan Perera, national director of Catholic education, told BBC Sandeshaya on July 1.
“The Minister has promised the archbishop to investigate and take corrective measures,” Father Perera said.
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