Lanka for dialogue with gays

Friday, 25 June 2010 10:43

By Indika Sri Aravinda

The Sri Lankan government says it is open for dialogue with Sri Lanka’s gay community, who had this week urged equal rights, but will not take any decision which could hurt the culture of the country.

Prime Minister D.M Jayaratna, when contacted by Daily Mirror online, over the demands made by the Sri Lankan gay community at a public function this week, said the government must first identify what sort of “equal rights” the gay community in Sri Lanka want.

He noted that while matters concerning gay people including gay marriage is acceptable in some western countries the gay community in Sri Lanka will have to define the rights they seek in order for it to be even given consideration.

“It is not wrong for them to seek rights. But we must know what exactly they want. They should communicate that to us and then we will see if it hurts our culture and take a decision accordingly,” the Premier told Daily Mirror online.

Sri Lanka’s gay community on Sunday demanded equal rights and urged the authorities to emulate India which had last year lifted restrictions on the gay community in New Delhi.

Executive Director of Equal Grounds, Rozanne Flemar Caldera, speaking at a fashion show in Colombo on Sunday evening organized by Sri Lanka’s gay community said that people must be treated equally be they gay or straight.

Equal Grounds represents the gay community in Sri Lanka and the fashion show held at the Galadari hotel saw both gay and straight people taking to the stage to portray equality. Several prominent personalities, diplomats and others attended the event. (Daily Mirror online)

Comments

-38+117 # malkanthi 2010-06-25 11:02

Hon Prime Minister, in this issue you have spoken loud and clear with clarity. Bravo!! You are very correct in asking what sort of “equal rights” they want, also it "should not hurt our culture".

-45+68 # citizen1 2010-06-25 11:06

Our 'culture' has already been through the wringer. Giving equal rights to the gay community is not going to even make a dent.

-15+99 # SriLankan 2010-06-25 11:53

By 'Our Culture' I think people refer to Buddhist Culture. It is a known fact that in Buddhism Homosexuality is not considered as a sin or anything. There a lot of other things that do put our culture at stake which are not taken care of.

-10+35 # malkanthi 2010-06-25 12:09

In order to legalize, as the PM said, they must clarify what exactly they expect?

-13+61 # SriLankan 2010-06-25 12:14

Which part of 'EQUAL RIGHTS' is it that People don't understand? the EQUAL or the RIGHTS?

-3+36 # Senior Citizen 2010-06-25 22:46

In SL some have "more than equal" rights - like the "Dr." who can get away with anything.

-52+47 # Thomas 2010-06-25 11:21

All Gays in Sri Lanka are equal before the Law. What is there to claim equal rights. Do you want the Registrar of Marriages to give a License????????

-35+42 # nz 2010-06-25 11:26

Aren't they already EQUAL?

-8+47 # SriLankan 2010-06-25 13:38

They are Equal in reality, not legally.

-54+41 # nuwan 2010-06-25 11:39

there are important matters than gay rights ...

-10+71 # chami 2010-06-25 11:42

Before talking about 'equal' rights, it would be nice to see homosexuality de-criminalized and the offense removed from the penal code as a starting point. I think the equal rights debate is premature.

-54+27 # Aan Balan 2010-06-25 11:48

WE CAN TAKE UP THIS MATTER WHEN WE ARE SELF SUFFICENT IN FOOD AND CLOTHING.

-3+10 # liveless 2010-06-26 14:30

that will be NEVER! lets deal with issues as and when they come up without postponing!

-3+55 # Yas 2010-06-25 12:02

I think the community just wants the old Victorian Laws which are not practiced anyway, removed. Thats what India did - they decriminalized homosexuality.

-18+12 # Sammy 2010-06-25 12:03

Let's see what these "equal rights" are, that they are talking about & take the matter thereon. Of course we should not be aping the west or any other country but have to take decisions based on Sri Lankan perspectives.

-19+16 # Sena2 2010-06-25 12:05

What are the rights that have been denied to the gay people?If they are thinking of legal sanctity for gay marriages, let them be specific about it without beating about the bush.

-5+51 # SriLankan 2010-06-25 13:35

The basic right, Being Gay, has been denied, or in other words, is a criminal offense here. I think its very clear what gays need, the equal rights as every other human being.

-6+56 # subash 2010-06-25 12:45

The need of the day is to do away with any pontential persecution of being gay. So let's decriminalise the offence of being homosexual by scrapping the section 365 of the penal code.

-88+21 # tharanga 2010-06-25 12:48

no way!! no gay community in sri lanka!!!

-13+64 # Lamaya 2010-06-25 13:21

It already exists Tharanga.. so we need to accept that and respect how they are.

-0+35 # Janaka 2010-06-26 00:05

'Live and let live'!

-1+21 # liveless 2010-06-26 14:32

gays exisit whether you like it or not!

-6+52 # anura keppetipola 2010-06-25 12:48

rights of all communities are needed to be addressed and provide satisfactory solutions. I agree de-criminalisation of being gay is a good start.

-18+45 # Hiran 2010-06-25 13:10

Giving approval for gay marriages will bring loads of gay tourists coming into Sri Lanka to tie the knots. Why dont we consider this option, as it is not going to harm anybody?

-31+24 # mike 2010-06-25 14:10

you forgot one thing, this is Sri lanka..

-17+51 # agar 2010-06-25 14:02

hey guys....im a gay....plese give us equal rights ...

-12+20 # senthil 2010-06-25 14:31

From my point of view, what I feel as equal rights are like in India, they want to respect them as equal citizens in education, jobs and so on. Generally in India, Sri Lanka we name them differently and the way we look at them is with a different point of view. I do agree that we generally say disgusting.
It is difficult for a country like Sri Lanka which is bound to the culture and religion in all three communities.
Lets see the practical implementation on their request.

-43+7 # Mohamed Shafraz 2010-06-25 21:46

Should not de-criminalize homosexuality!

-1+8 # Sanka-green alliance 2010-06-26 14:46

Thinking politically with religious opinions can have series consequences. .

-48+14 # Palitha Heenthotuwa 2010-06-25 21:51

Homosexuality is a 'mental disease' that should be treated!

-4+28 # liveless 2010-06-26 14:34

no palitha - homosexuality is not a mental disorder nor is it a disease.- read the diagnostics manual on mental health and please meet some gay people and talk to them!

-5+10 # nash 2010-06-26 15:12

u also need treatment.

-1+12 # Janaka 2010-06-26 00:04

There are provisions in SL, which outlaw homosexuality.

-21+7 # Nimal 2010-06-26 10:08

May be the gays think Sri Lanka has no other problems to think of before this.

-9+5 # bash 2010-06-26 11:55

OK OK we can take the mind off the rising cost of living and loss of employment due to the GSP plus and fully focus on the Gay rights issue

-27+6 # Pathirana 2010-06-26 12:21

The main root cause for AIDS is Homosexuall. We have enough AIDS victim in Sri Lanka Please. We don't want to spread the this evil culture to this cuntry.

-25+8 # Lanka Atapattu 2010-06-26 12:55

No need Any Gay to Sri Lanka .................

-17+5 # Lal Hannadige 2010-06-26 12:56

where we heading. are we ruining ourselves

-7+4 # ela 2010-06-26 13:10

hey mr.minister is this a big problem in our country? are you going crazy? do some good work benefit for the country

-19+2 # MaPer 2010-06-26 13:11

Before we grant equal rights, we need to understand what makes a person a lesbian or homosexual? Is it genetic? If it is not, then they cannot be granted human rights as most religions do not advocate homosexuality. If it were granted, propagation of the human race will be wiped out.

-1+6 # hashan 2010-06-26 15:09

propagation of the human race is way too much anyway, maybe this is the genetic control thats needed! Selfish Humans are taking over the entire world and pushing other living animals into small pockets called ''wilderness parks'', whats worse, we think its our right to do that!

-16+2 # Ariya 2010-06-26 13:24

Have homosexuals in Sri Lanka kept their activities under check because of the presence of old Victorian laws? Or, have we heard of cases where they were prosecuted in courts of law? The fact of the matter is they have always engaged in their endeavours to the heartful without any impediment or running the risk of being taken to courts. Thus, there is no question of them being harassed or being denied of any rights, as such.

-0+29 # Victim Woman 2010-06-26 13:59

I can speak from personal experience about what hhappens when society continues to criminalize gays. The gays conceal their identity and pretend to be heterosexual. Gay men marry women as part of this charade, and the women become unsuspecting victims. I am one. The man I married turned out to be a closet gay and that ruined my marriage and both of us suffered for several years. I know other women who have been thru this experience.

-28+3 # xlntgsob 2010-06-26 14:35

Promoting gay culture is outrageous!

-8+5 # Niroshan 2010-06-26 15:00

Towards Dharma Rajya.........

-1+19 # SriLankan 2010-06-27 10:11

In a perfect Dharma Rajya, There will be equal rights for every being. That is what Lord Buddha preached us.

-19+4 # prasan 2010-06-26 15:33

Give them all the rights they ask, the day one gay could deliver a baby from his womb gifted by his partner gay,similar to union between a man & woman.

-2+19 # Dimuthu de Silva 2010-06-27 08:23

How ignorant could people be? Root cause of AIDS= Homosexuality. AIDS could be caused by unprotected sex between men and women too. This shows the literacy rate in the country.

-24+1 # queenkuweni 2010-06-27 09:57

homosexuality is a "mind set".One doesn't need equality nor rights to hang on to a perverted life style.There are many more pressing issues facing Lankans which is priority.Wouldn't the people of Lanka be more interested in a permanent or temporary solution to the rising cost of living?,a solution to the increased crime rate?the integration of the Tamil community into society in the north?

-0+5 # Nishada perera 2010-07-04 19:15

equal rights to all human beings despite their differences are indispensable. we have had all the problems you have mentioned since the day we can hardly remember. societies are prone to change. so we have to give it a go. homosexuality is not a crime or a sin. if so GOD would have never created us. before you put your anger in to words please think twice.

-0+3 # Freewill 2010-09-11 18:15

If you know what it is like to be gay, or if you were gay, you will feel what it is like to be prosecuted for something you have no control over and the illogical disgust that's cast on homosexuality fuelled (not entirely) by the criminalisation of it!

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