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Fact Check
The present government is planning to distribute condoms to school students.
This is false. There is no official announcement of any condom distribution program. The Ministry of Health has only proposed including condom use and other HIV/STI prevention measures in the school curriculum.
Multiple posts are being widely circulated online claiming that the current government is planning to distribute condoms to school students.
A TikTok post in Sinhala reads, “Once you reach 16 years, you’ll get a condom and 5000 rupees.” A similar claim has also been shared on Facebook. The posts can be seen here, here and here.
Two videos related to this claim are also going viral.
The first shows the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, criticizing what he describes as the government’s move to distribute condoms to school children. This video is being widely shared on TikTok, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
The second video features Sri Lankan author Anisha Jayakody speaking in Sinhala about sex education in schools, with a text reading, “There are condoms in foreign schools… students can use them whenever they need to.” The post, shared on TikTok and Facebook, has drawn critical comments suggesting it threatens the country’s values.
The NPP government has prioritized education reform, focusing on modernizing the outdated system and introducing vocational, technical, and STEM-based learning. However, limited clarity around these reforms has led to confusion and misinformation.
Similar to earlier debates on the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination and changes in subjects like History and Aesthetics, the discussion on sex education has also become a source of controversy and misunderstanding.
The claim that the government plans to distribute condoms to school students is false. No official announcement has been made. The Health Ministry only proposed adding information about condom use and STI prevention to the school curriculum, not distributing condoms.
FAQs
Q1. Did the government announce condom distribution in schools?
No. There is no such plan.
Q2. What did Bimal Rathnayake propose?
He proposed giving Rs. 5,000 to A/L students for cultural and recreational activities.
Q3. What was the viral video of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith about?
He criticized a move that does not exist, based on misinformation.
Q4. Why is condom use mentioned in education discussions?
It was suggested as part of HIV and STI prevention lessons in the health education curriculum.
Our Sources
News report on Bimal Ratnayake’s speech in Parliament, Daily Mirror, 08 Oct 2025.
News report on Education Ministry’s denial, Daily News, 03 Oct 2025.
News report on Health Ministry’s recommendation, Hiru News, 29 Aug 2025.
News report on Health Ministry’s recommendation, Daily Mirror, 28 Aug 2025.
News report on Health Ministry’s recommendation, Unusuma.lk, 28 Aug 2025.
News report on ministries clashing over condom use in school curriculum, Hiru News, 08 Sep 2025.
News report on ministries clashing over condom use in school curriculum, Daily Mirror, 08 Sep 2025.
Video of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Hiru News YouTube channel, 29 Sep 2025.
Interview with Anisha Jayakody, Mayurige Kathawa YouTube channel, 24 Sep 2024.
moe.gov.lk
False
