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Friday March 31st, 2023

Sex Education is OK but must be ‘culturally sensitive’

ECONOMYNEXT – The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Women and Gender met Tuesday (21) in parliament to discuss the ‘Hathe Ape Potha,’ a sex education textbook given to the grade seven students which has aroused much controversy.

The discussion involved many experts including health sector professionals, Education and Health Ministry representatives and the Buddhist clergy and opinions in favour of the book and those opposing the book were taken into consideration.

The parties who mainly opposed the content of the book said it was inappropriate for twelve-year-old readers to discuss masturbation.

Senior Lecturer of the University of Peradeniya, in psychiatry Dr Pabasari Ginige explained the need for improving sex education in Sri Lanka.

According to statistics obtained at a psychology clinic conducted at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital between the years 1984 and 2001, Ginige said that 94 per cent of children who faced sexual harassment have been assaulted by the people they knew.

“Within the considered period a total of 84 children have been sexually harassed and out of them, 73.5 percent of the children were over 11 years and 16.9 per cent were between the ages six to ten. Importantly, 9.6 per cent of them was below six years,” Ginige said.

Dr Ginige pointed out that the content regarding masturbation should not be something to fuss about.

“If it is in accordance with the syllabus, I am of the opinion that those two sentences shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve met many adults who come to the clinics who believed that masturbating is a sin. It shouldn’t be like that because it is a normal process with the hormonal changes. Children should not, therefore, think it is a wrong thing to do. So I think we have to improve sex education in our country in a culturally sensitive manner,” Dr Ginige said.

However, Dr Wasantha Bandara who represented national organizations said that the book is a ‘reckless’ piece of work and said that national standards should be made before preparing such a book.

“It is internationally accepted that standards should be made before preparing material about sex education. The cultural aspects should be considered important. We don’t refuse sex education but when we include certain content we should keep in mind that those don’t appear to be prejudicial. If one monk does something wrong, nowadays there is a trend to generalize that to all the monks. Therefore, we request to create proper standards and policies before creating such a book,” Bandara said.

Prof Medagoda Abhayatissa Thero, who recently criticised the ‘Hathe Ape Potha’ too, shared his opinion at the discussion.

“It seemed to me that although this book was meant to provide sex education, it encourages sexual stimulation. I don’t say that sex education is not necessary but the book is age-inappropriate. Certain content of the book normalizes the unusual behaviour of those who are too matured for their age,” he said.

However, addressing the discussion, Chancellor of University of Ruhuna Dr Akuratiye Nanda Thero said that he is of the opinion that the book does not contain anything inappropriate.

The Committee finally decided to direct the Education Ministry to submit a comprehensive report regarding the ‘Hathe Ape Potha’ and then decide regarding the distribution of book among the students. (Colombo, 22 January 2020)

Comments (3)

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  1. Moiez says:

    Nowadays all the children know about sex,there is no need for a syllabus to teach them, as everyone has got phone in their hands so they find out from internet, even a small child knows what’s sex now.

    1. Nilmini says:

      Actually I think this means that there is an even greater need for sex education. Not all the information regarding sex in the internet is accurate, neither is it entirely safe. Children don’t know enough about sex to know what websites are trustworthy sources and which are not. Additionally, most end up learning about sex from porn sites and these can have an extremely harmful effect on children and they’re understanding of their own bodies and sexual activities. It is far better that they are provided with sex education in schools.

  2. Lion Perera says:

    I read the book in its entirety. I am well versed in the language of Sinhalese. I started reading the book battling the presumption that the opposition directed came from dogmatic religious bias. I reached a different conclusion by the time I was less than halfway through the book. The contents are just, and serves well the Sri Lankan young. HOWEVER, the informal language in the book pulls the message to a zone somewhere in between sinister and perversion. This sort of writing has no place for it to be in casual or conversational language. Keep this sort of thing formal – Get a writer to do the job. That’s all.

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Comments (3)

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Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Moiez says:

    Nowadays all the children know about sex,there is no need for a syllabus to teach them, as everyone has got phone in their hands so they find out from internet, even a small child knows what’s sex now.

    1. Nilmini says:

      Actually I think this means that there is an even greater need for sex education. Not all the information regarding sex in the internet is accurate, neither is it entirely safe. Children don’t know enough about sex to know what websites are trustworthy sources and which are not. Additionally, most end up learning about sex from porn sites and these can have an extremely harmful effect on children and they’re understanding of their own bodies and sexual activities. It is far better that they are provided with sex education in schools.

  2. Lion Perera says:

    I read the book in its entirety. I am well versed in the language of Sinhalese. I started reading the book battling the presumption that the opposition directed came from dogmatic religious bias. I reached a different conclusion by the time I was less than halfway through the book. The contents are just, and serves well the Sri Lankan young. HOWEVER, the informal language in the book pulls the message to a zone somewhere in between sinister and perversion. This sort of writing has no place for it to be in casual or conversational language. Keep this sort of thing formal – Get a writer to do the job. That’s all.

Sri Lanka rupee closes at 328/329 against the US dollar, bond yields down

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s treasury bond yields were down and the rupee closed at 328/329 against the US dollar in the spot market on Friday, dealers said.

A 01.07.2025 bond closed at 29.80/30.20 percent on Friday, down from 31.25/30 percent on Thursday.

A 15.09.2027 bond closed at 27.45/55 percent, steady from 28.80/85 percent on Thursday.

Sri Lanka rupee closed at 328/329 rupees against the US dollar, from 327/330 rupees from a day earlier. (Colombo/ March31/2023)

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Sri Lanka tax hike: no response from president, professionals to discuss next steps

GMOA Secretary Haritha Alutghe

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s trade unions and professional associations who have been agitating against an International Monetary Fund (IMF) backed progressive tax hike will meet to discuss further union action after a letter to the president went unanswered.

Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) secretary Dr Haritha Aluthge told reporters on Friday March 31 that the unions will meet as the self-styled Professionals’ Trade Union Alliance (PTUA) collective which have so far been organising strikes and demonstrations demanding a revision of the taxes.

The PTUA has been awaiting a promised meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe for some days now. Aluthge previously said on Monday that if the meeting did not materialise, the unions would be compelled to go on strike.

The issue has become stagnant due to government inaction, said Aluthge at Friday’s press conference.

“The PTUA informed the president in writing yesterday for the last time to please understand the gravity of this situation and to immediately give us a meeting and present the government’s interim solution, through which the government can take measures to ease the sense of tension among professionals,” he said.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss an “interim solution” to the professionals’ grievances over the progressive income tax hike until a reported revision that’s due in six months when the country’s recently approved 17th IMF programme comes up for review.

“Sadly, there has still been no response,” the GMOA official said.

All unions and professional associations will meet Friday evening together with a number of other unions to discuss further action, he added.

The privately-owned English-language weekly newspaper The Sunday Times reported on March 26 that the IMF had indicated the possibility of revising some of the taxes imposed as part of the IMF’s staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka when the programme comes up for review in six months.

According to the newspaper, IMF officials had conveyed this to representatives of trade unions during a virtual roundtable held last Friday March 24. The virtual meeting was held on the initiative of the IMF and was attended by trade unions and professional associations representing the PTUA including the GMOA. (Colombo/Mar31/2023)

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Sri Lankan transport associations cut haulage and transportation fees after fuel price cut

ECONOMYNEXT –  Sri Lanka Association of Container Transporters and fuel bowser owners has decided to reduce the haulage charges and transportation fee, after the government cut the auto diesel prices by 80 rupees, association officials said.

“Due to the recent reduction in Auto Diesel price from March30, 2023, the committee has decided to reduce haulage charges by 7 percent,” association said.

Sri Lanka Private Petroleum Tanker owners has also decided to reduce the transportation fee of fuel by 8 -10 percent from April onwards.

“We will be meeting with the association members and will be deciding on exactly how much we will be reducing,” the General Secretary of the association Nimal Amarasekera told EconomyNext.

“We hope to reduce it by 8-10 percent and will be applied.”

Meanwhile United Lanka Fuel Transport Bowser Owners Association said, the price reduction will be done, and the specific amount will be calculated using the cost per kilometer for a transporting bowser.

“We have different types of bowsers such as 13,200 litre and 19,800 litre likewise,” Association President K.W. Charles told EconomyNext.

“So the cost per kilometer per bowser is different and after we calculate only we can give a specific percentage.

“It will come to effect from this month and the payments for the next month will be based on the new prices.”

Charles said, this is only based on the price reduction of fuel, however several costs as maintenance and spare part costs should also be considered when deciding the transportation cost, which is also being discussed with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

Sri Lanka slashed fuel prices with effect from Wednesday (29) midnight, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said, after a protest by trade unions of state-run fuel retailer Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) resulting in queues at filling stations due to supply disruption.

The price of Petrol 92 Octane will be slashed by 15 percent or 60 rupees to 340, Petrol 95 Octane 95 will be reduced by 26.5 percent or 135 rupees to 375, Auto Diesel by 19.8 percent or 80 rupees to 325, and kerosene by 3.3 percent or 10 rupees to 295. (Colombo/ March31/2023)

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