Special meeting to decide on controversial textbook 'Hathe Ape Potha'

Colombo (News 1st): It has been decided to convene a special meeting on January 21st to reach a final decision over the publication of the Hathe Ape Potha. Minister of Education Dullas Allahaperuma and Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi will attend the meeting. The decision was reached after a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources Development, and the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Women and Gender. The joint meeting held at the Parliamentary complex was attended by the Maha Sangha, medical experts, university professors and academics, officers of the National Child Protection Authority, and officials of the Ministry of Education. Many of the experts who spoke at the meeting pointed out that adolescent children should be given sex education and presented information on a number of studies conducted by the Ministry of Health and Universities. The Government Information Department said a proposal was made to publish and distribute among school students the Hathe Ape Potha and added that a final decision will be reached on the 21st of this month. It was also decided to invite the members of the Maha Sangha who criticized this book to attend the meeting as well.