LGBTQI+ community condemns Prez's remarks on “butterfly life”

6 November 2018 05:17 pm - 38 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Members of the Sri Lankan LGBTQI+ community today categorically condemned President Maithripala Sirisena’s statement made at Government’s rally in Colombo saying he was promoting homophobia and public incitement of homophobic hatred.

They said in a statement that the President had made a series of homophobic comments at a public rally held on Monday and that those comments were met with laughter and applause by those gathered on stage besides Sirisena, including Mahinda Rajapaksa who was appointed as Prime Minister by Sirisena.

“The President, who was in a Unity Government with the United National Front (UNF) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, categorically stated that Mr Wickremesinghe rejected national values and had entered a “butterfly life” [“samanala jeevithaya” in Sinhala], which implies a queer lifestyle.

Sirisena then commented that key decisions of government were made not by the President nor by party seniors but by Mr Wickremesinghe and his “butterfly caucus” [“samanala rela” in Sinhala].

These comments were met with laughter and applause by those gathered on stage,” he said.
The President said the homophobia openly promoted by the elected head of state makes it clear that the President had absolutely no notion or commitment whatsoever for the fundamental rights and human dignity of all Sri Lankans.

“It is particularly disappointing coming from a President elected on the votes of many members of the Sri Lankan LGBTQI+ community who saw his candidacy as a respite from the rampant homophobia of the preceding Rajapaksa presidency,” the statement said.

It said President Sirisena’s statement was a clear case of misinformation and was misleading his own party and supporters.

“We condemn his use of homophobia to amuse his political gallery. By trivialising homophobia in this fashion, President Sirisena should be held responsible for any homophobic incidents that Sri Lankan citizens may experience in the coming days,” the statement issued with signatories of 210 members of the LGBTQI+ community said.

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Comments - 38

rajitha7 Tuesday, 06 November 2018 05:34 PM

The rear-end should only be used for its intended purpose.

Hari Mani Tuesday, 06 November 2018 06:08 PM

Why you bother about other's rear end? Dont you have better things to do with your life, other than what comes out or go in of others personal preferences?

cicero Tuesday, 06 November 2018 06:13 PM

Don't be so small minded. Brains should be used for their intended purpose.

Saranga Tuesday, 06 November 2018 06:41 PM

Why don't we drop democratic part unsdy of just having as a fancy word

Shas Tuesday, 06 November 2018 06:52 PM

Rajitha7One part of the body can have multiple intended purpose like penis can be used not only to pee but also for intercourse. Some are evole to do such things. Don't judge them don't spread hatred just because they are not like you. How do you figure out the intended purpose of a specific part of a body?

raj Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:09 PM

When the subject matter is something like LGBT, your brain thinks only about penis and what to do with it?

Raj Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:33 PM

Well said..these unnatural brutes must be given the death penalty

Dnm Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:58 PM

Hey rajitha, mate..where do you live?? Which year is it there...1880 ?? May be you should read bit more or watch world news...;)

Nivard Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:19 PM

Unfortunately some politicians use it as a source of income.

Stan Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:57 PM

If only you used your brain for its intended purpose you would learn to research. I don't know what intended "purpose" you're talking about, but men do have a g-spot in their rear-end - women have it in their front end.

Devinhc Tuesday, 06 November 2018 09:23 PM

My rear-end is fine actually, I've gotten compliments from so many guys!

Dhammika Tuesday, 06 November 2018 05:43 PM

I dont know about the BUTER but very soon MS will have to FLY I dont know where ? .

Nihal Amarasekera Tuesday, 06 November 2018 06:09 PM

Even animals don't indulge in sex with the same sex said boxing great manny Pacquiao if I am not mistaken. Queer rights, did you say? Queer.

Shas Tuesday, 06 November 2018 06:43 PM

First you need to understand humans are also animals.Just saying.

Haiyo Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:01 PM

Animals do show homosexual behaviour. Also humans do a lot of great and evil things animals dont do. Move on.

raj Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:04 PM

Then you have not observed animals or read about them!

Stan Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:52 PM

Nihal, more than 450 species show homosexual behaviour, but only one species (humans) show homophobia. Now tell me what do you think is unnatural?

SG Wednesday, 07 November 2018 08:15 AM

Animals do you buffoon. Don't comment when you only know so much about the world

Mevan Tuesday, 06 November 2018 06:10 PM

MS showed his idiocy on a number of occasions but this time it is a record.

Haiyo Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:02 PM

If he ever gets to go abroad one day, he will find it difficult to answer when they bring this statement up. Even MR knows when not to say these things.

Elio Di Rupo Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:06 PM

RW you are a disgrace to to the LGBT community

Ronnie Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:07 PM

If rw can get his act together and run the country instead of energizing the nationalist movement by sheer ineffectiveness this wouldnt even be an issue. If rw is the best the queer community can produce then those people have serious competence problems lol

Dr.Siri Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:15 PM

Even animals

MODA BURUWA Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:29 PM

In SL they are called POLITICIANS.

sir Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:22 PM

can someone tell me what is LGBTQI ? I am so curious.

Dhammika Tuesday, 06 November 2018 07:40 PM

I think its for LESBIAN , GAY , BI - SEXUAL , TRANS SEXUAL , Q (I dont know sorry)

Elio Di Rupo Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:11 PM

LGBTQI stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Intersex

Wiki Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:29 PM

According to Internet: LGBTQI stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Intersex

Mandy Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:34 PM

It is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual) The PLUS ( ) in the name ensures that the community will always be inclusive of all identities to make our community feel welcomed and that nobody is left out.

Vernon Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:44 PM

Q is for Queers

Bee Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:36 PM

Remember Boxer Mohamed Ali used to "Float like a Butterfly and Sting like a Bee". RW might do the same to MS. !!!

sunnyman2020 Tuesday, 06 November 2018 08:53 PM

It shows the quality of humanity, maturity, education and respect this so called president has. How unfortunate we Srilankans are to be led by this kind of uneducated man ! I rather vote my dog next time

jayantha Tuesday, 06 November 2018 09:03 PM

Sirisena, the farmer from Polonnaruwa has no idea about modern worlds human rights.

Jhonny Wednesday, 07 November 2018 11:54 AM

Well said. The whole mistake is electing him as the President.

SL Tuesday, 06 November 2018 09:37 PM

The problems is that this community is trying to teach kids about them trough the Grad 1 school text books while they are not talking about legitimate heterosexual community at grade 1 level.This the mentality of this union ,This is a clear violation of rights of natural heterosexual majority.

willowsd Wednesday, 07 November 2018 08:40 AM

Unfortunately it was a Jelly Fish talk?

Ravensc Wednesday, 07 November 2018 09:29 AM

Fun part is, 2015 hero of Sri Lankan LGBTQI community, now became the villain in 2018. The most fun part is, still people praise and requests former premier, who's behind all of these theatrics :)

Jhonny Wednesday, 07 November 2018 10:08 AM

This is the eminence of people are expecting in Sri Lanka from the President and the blame should go to people for electing them.

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LGBTQI+ community condemns Prez's remarks on “butterfly life”

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