Extract from Archdiocese of Colombo :

" SUNDAY TIMES " on 06th Nov.2011 reports in the news paper ( page 04 ),that the request sent from the Office of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksha to the Education Ministry to favourably consider the request of the Catholic and Christian students do Religion in English medium, has been turned down.

The news report further says, " The Presidential Secretariat has sent two separate letters to the Education Minis­try Secretary and re­quested him to find an early solution to the problem. The latest letter was sent last week."

Thousands of Catholic parents have writing letters to His Excellency the President and also to the Education Ministry, to allow the Catholic and Christian students to do Christianity in English medium at G.C.E. (Ordinary Level ) Exam, as much as other religious communities are allowed to study and do religion in their own language at the exams conducted by the government.

Hundreds of Catholic parents also appealed to His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith to appeal to the government and the Education Ministry not to deprive the Catholic and Christian students of studying and doing the Religion paper in English medium. His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm in several discussions held with the relevant authorities in the government, appealed to them to consider this request favorably and told some of the parents who met His Eminence in a recent visit to Bambalapitiya, that he has not yet received a positive response.

Paper reports that "the parents who have made representations to the President's Office said that that most of the students follow religion in the English medi­um and therefore they should be given the opportunity to sit the exam in English. The parents have also pointed out that most of the students followed Sunday school classes which were held in English and therefore the students should be given the opportunity to sit the exam in English."

" Students who have already applied to sit the exam in the English medium have been told to withdraw their applications and instead sit the exam in Sinhala or Tamil. Parents have pointed out that though students from Government and semi-Government schools were not allowed to sit the papers in English students in inter­national schools were allowed to sit the ex­am in English there by discriminating against a section of the students."

" Examinations Commissioner General Anura Edirisingha told the Sunday Times that he cannot take a decision on the matter and it was up to the Education Ministry to take a decision. However an official at the Education Min­istry Secretary's of­fice said that the Examinations Depart­ment also has the re­sponsibility of deciding on such issues. Ministry Secretary H.R.Gunasekara was not available for comment " says the news report.

The present Rector of St.Peter's College, Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel at the Annual Prize Giving held on 15th February 2011, said, " Under the state school system parents have little or no role to play. Politicians demand not only that education is free but that it should be also equal. The reform of education requires free choice for parents to choose their schools and choose the medium. There is a strong demand by parents and children in favor of the English medium. Although educationists advocate the mother tongue at the primary stage there are strong reasons to allow secondary education in the English medium."

Catholic students study Religion in English medium in the Sunday Schools conducted on Sundays in the Churches and when they reach Year 11, they have not been allowed by the Education Ministry to do Religion in English medium. Each child should be allowed to learn the faith of one's religion in their own language.

In the Constitution of Sri Lanka, Chapter, II,art.9, says, " The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e)" and art 12. says, " (1) All persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law, (2) No citizen shall be discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste sex, political opinion, place of birth or any such grounds:"

And also His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksh in his ceremonial address declare open the 4th Session of the current Parliament on 19th May 2010, said that the word 'minorities' removed from our vocabulary and the right to life and the right to freedom will be preserved, " In the past several decades those people did not have the right to a meaningful life. They were denied the right to life, the right to freedom, the right to development. I shall give all of that to those people. I accept that responsibility" said the President.

Whole Catholic and Christian community will await for a change in the decision made by the Education Ministry and consider the request favourably allowing the Catholic and Christian students to do Christianity - Religion paper in English medium at the government exam.