By Dilanthi Jayamanne | The Island
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National Director for Social Communication, National Catholic Centre for Social Communication, Fr. Benedict Joseph warned of possible religious friction if History text books printed and provided by the Education Department continued to be taught in schools. He urged the President and the Minister of Education to take steps to immediately withdraw these texts which distort and show contempt to the Catholics and their doctrine.
If there are certain references made to religions it should be clarified with the religious leaders of that religion. And those responsible for formulating such important texts should not put forward their viewpoint.
"This is not the way to go about rebuilding and rejuvenating a nation which has suffered from thirty years of war. It is not formula which should be used to make Sri Lanka the ‘miracle of Asia,’ he cautioned. This will only create a rift among religions. Teaching children to regard the Catholic Church and its religious leaders in contempt would only lead to religious discord he warned.
Archdiocesan Director of Education and General Manager of Catholic Schools (WP), Rev. Fr. Ranjith Madurawala said that history had been introduced as one of the main subjects in recent years. The aim of teaching history to school children should be to prepare them for their future while learning from the past. By formulating a subject text with designs to create a religious rift one sees that there is a malicious idea behind the entire endeavour.
The Episcopal Vicar Colombo Southern Region, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said that religion was not the only fact which formed a history. History is also made of culture, politics and art.
He urged all responsible parties to take immediate steps to withdraw these texts which would only create disharmony and hatred in young minds.
© The Island
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