Sri Lanka's Economic Resilience: The Case for Comprehensive Sex Education 📈

The recent focus on systemic gaps in Sri Lanka's education highlights a critical need for Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) to safeguard social and economic stability. Addressing these gaps is framed as a long-term investment in human capital. • Systemic Gaps & Productivity: Taboos surrounding reproductive health contribute to school absenteeism (up to 50% in certain regions due to period poverty) and poor health outcomes, directly impacting future workforce participation. • Legal & Social Literacy: Education on consent and legal boundaries is vital to navigate power dynamics in Sri Lanka’s hierarchical society, aiming to reduce the rising cases of child abuse and youth HIV infections (104 cases in 2023). • Sector Impact: • Healthcare: Improved literacy reduces the economic burden of reproductive disorders and unplanned pregnancies. • Labour Force: Empowering the youth (approx. 5.2 Mn by 2032) with informed decision-making skills is essential for national development. • Provisional Data Highlights: • Only 0.4% of surveyed adolescents demonstrate satisfactory reproductive health knowledge. • 50% of households face period poverty, affecting female education and economic mobility. • CSE is recognized as a "cost-effective" intervention by the UNFPA to bridge the 30–35% stagnation in female labour force participation.