Banning corporal punishment will create unwanted problems: Cardinal

10 October 2025 03:56 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 23 Bookmark

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Colombo, Oct. 10 (Daily Mirror) - While criticising the move to ban corporal punishment, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said it will result in unwanted problems.

"According to the new legislation aimed at banning corporal punishment, a child can even lodge a complaint against his or her parents if they advise him or her on something. This is the dangerous situation that this law would lead to. One could imagine what could happen to teachers in such a scenario," Cardinal Ranjith said during a service held at St. John the Baptist Church at Nayakakanda.

"These types of laws exist in the West. We should not copy the West. Those in Western countries do not follow religions. They are free thinkers. We don't want that kind of concepts in Sri Lanka as we have a culture of our own. We don't want the government to create unwanted issues," he said.

Comments - 23

Rolcom Friday, 10 October 2025 04:14 PM

He is a shame to the country.

22 76

Roisin Friday, 10 October 2025 04:19 PM

Banning corporal punishment works very well in the Western countries, cardinal. In my opinion corporal punishment is very unchristian.

19 73

DOT Friday, 10 October 2025 04:26 PM

You are very outdated person

19 77

Kuruppu Friday, 10 October 2025 04:28 PM

Because that’s what Jesus taught us. “Beat up the kids. Don’t show kindness. Judge and you won’t be judged” - Malcom 33:12 Why do we keep quoting these dinosaurs? Dave the kids from pedo priests before advocating for beating them up

18 55

Gt Friday, 10 October 2025 04:44 PM

What an idiot, so assaulting children or people is OK? We gotta be slaves to religion? What is this moron talking about

17 61

Sokrates Friday, 10 October 2025 04:47 PM

This man is gradually losing touch with reality. He would probably like to see pyres in the market squares again, where free thinkers are burned. As for the West and free thinkers: with 285 million, Europe has the largest Catholic population of any region in the world.

11 54

Little boy Friday, 10 October 2025 04:57 PM

We all know the church likes a little spanking.

13 46

Invictusrilankan Friday, 10 October 2025 05:37 PM

Oh yes the Tagline is 'Spank

2 19

saman Friday, 10 October 2025 05:15 PM

What has this issue got to do with the Church?

4 43

Uncle Paradise Friday, 10 October 2025 05:36 PM

Isn't Christianity itself a western religion? lol

11 32

M Fernando Friday, 10 October 2025 05:41 PM

Do not remove the ability to cane those delicious bottoms and see them twitch !

9 22

Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 10 October 2025 05:59 PM

The donis have started attacking Cardinal because he criticised the Pacha government action. When Cardinal supported them , he was appreciated but when he says something that is perfectly fine but against the Pacha government action, then he becomes a bad guy. This is the Dhobi theory.

42 14

Ranga Friday, 10 October 2025 05:59 PM

This guy is such a nuisance

12 26

John Friday, 10 October 2025 06:00 PM

Given that stats like crime rate or traffic related death rate in Sri Lanka are not much better than average, can we really say that so-called "values" on disciplining children through measures like corporal punishment work? I think these religious leaders are promoting unnecessary violence on children. Which is really hypocritical as these are the same people who preach things like love, non-violence and compassion.

7 24

Nihal D. Perera - Pls use NDP -Oslo Friday, 10 October 2025 06:15 PM

Dear Cardinal, As a Christian living in a Western country where corporal punishment has been banned for decades, I wish to share a different perspective. Parents, teachers, and clergy here have learned to guide children through dialogue, empathy, and example — not through fear or physical punishment. This approach has built trust and respect between generations. Sri Lanka, too, deserves such progress. Children must be allowed to think freely, question, and learn from guidance rather than fear. Discipline should not come from pain but from understanding. When we silence or strike children, we do not teach them obedience — we teach them submission. The role of clergy and educators should be to nurture conscience and compassion, not to control thought. True Christian teaching values love, patience, and forgiveness — not punishment.

4 45

Dr. Dee esquire Friday, 10 October 2025 06:27 PM

Cardinal! What happened to the name of the Easter mastermind? Now many Poya’s have passed. No more elections! Have you forgotten? Your people are waiting for answers! Not us.

3 14

Manikkavasagar Friday, 10 October 2025 06:28 PM

"Spare the rod and spoil the child" - Is this what Sri Lankans want. Cardinal is very correct. It is not about religion but discipline. We must have corporate punishment but it should be mild not to create fractures or body pain, but to correct the child to move in the correct direction. Discipline is key for progress. What is the use of having children if they become indisciplined and don't love parents, siblings.

23 20

Krish Friday, 10 October 2025 06:41 PM

What are these, unwanted problems. And why we can't be free thinkers. Also If I recall USA is on of a most religious countries in the world.

8 9

Robin Jayasekera Friday, 10 October 2025 08:03 PM

There are no religious people or religious countries in this world. If we had susch a religous community how come we had to experience Easter Sunday bombings, Aranthalawa massacre, daily shootings to kill, drug menance, corruption, pick-pocketing so on and so forth. Religion for people has become like jewelary. They will wear and display when they want, and then set aside or hide it away all the other times. Corporeal punishment can never be justified in any society, whether Western or Eastern. Period.

2 4

RAK Friday, 10 October 2025 08:12 PM

If you are against Freedom. of others, You are a Terrorist.

5 7

Pierre Gunesekera Friday, 10 October 2025 08:21 PM

Please make endeavours to ensure that those who are under your purview and anointed to shepherd the flock are doing so according to the tenets instead of herding them by their dictatorial and pompus attitude. It's best leaving the governance of the country in those appointed by the masses and concentrating on ensuring your house is in order. The Lord himself very clearly says in the Gospel of St. Matthew Chapter 22 Verse 21 At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

2 2

Sam Friday, 10 October 2025 08:38 PM

What an out-dated idiot of a man. Should never let him get close to children for multiple reasons!

7 14

Mohan Friday, 10 October 2025 08:54 PM

This cardinal is an idiot of the highest order. He should be sent to the dustbin of history.

7 14

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