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Last Updated : 2023-05-28 01:02:00
Contradicting a statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday that he threw away the Cabinet paper aimed at legalizing homosexuality, Minister Rajitha Senaratne today told Parliament that there was never such a move.
"There was never a move to legalize homosexually or prostitution," the minister said responding to a question raised by MP Piyal Nishantha this afternoon.
The minister said Cabinet paper was only aimed at ensuring the rights of all Sri Lankans.
“The paper was to ensure that people of different sexual orientation enjoys same rights as others. You must read the Cabinet paper clearly" he told MP Nishantha.
“There was a list of items under sexual orientations and gay people came under one category. Accordingly, gay people will only enjoy rights as others and there is no move to recognize homosexual relationships," he said.
The minister said this when MP Nishantha recalled the statement made by the President on Wednesday.
MP Nishantha then said gay people might use the Cabinet paper as a loop hole to argue that the lifestyle they adopt was legal. (Yohan Perera)
unibambi Friday, 27 January 2017 11:26 AM
Prime Minister recommends 7 Perches land to estate employees: This idea is alienation of lands. Giving 7 perches land to an estate worker will only ruin the plantation sector. Thus wasting the land available for planting crops. The estate workers do not not have the ability to plant crops and in a short while the land will become arid. It is therefore important to save the land for cultivation and give unfertileland outside the plantation for housing.
DISSANAYAKE Friday, 27 January 2017 05:52 PM
Scientific studies have proven that many of the people who involved with crimes such as rapes and child abuses, etc have hyper active hormone levels, naturally. Under such circumstances, are we going to legalise rapes and child abuses by such people? A society is not a one man phenomenon. For the benefit of all, some of the instincts (natural or otherwise) of a few may have to be curbed by adopting legal barriers. The so called individualism is a curse to the well being of a society. These are imported issues from the west. Do not force us to accept so called values of the western countries. Some of our intellectuals prescribe and try to implant western values forcefully for our societies without any contextual analysis.
Calistus Jayatilleke Friday, 27 January 2017 05:29 PM
It is really sad to see most of our political leaders are still living in the stone age forgetting that this is the 21st century.
Menaka Friday, 27 January 2017 03:48 PM
What's wrong with legalising homesexuality,may I ask brother? It's about human rights.
mnsmart Friday, 27 January 2017 02:35 PM
Danno Danithi
Adwani Friday, 27 January 2017 02:34 PM
MP Nishantha then said gay people might use the Cabinet paper as a loop hole to argue that the lifestyle they adopt was legal. - This shows how uneducated our MPs are, when he was clearly told that they will be treated as just normal beings then still he has not understood, there are no loop holes you fool.
sala Friday, 27 January 2017 02:33 PM
World Health Organisation is run by westerns and homosexuaity is common in their country. what if first human being are homos . Its not natural and they are victims of circumstance . When you do not find opposit sex when their is urge for sex you look the next person whether they are same or opposit some get adusted and some get caught for the orientation and justify its normal
mal Friday, 27 January 2017 02:14 PM
Dont change the definition of marriage and make this a cursed country. Not even the animals indulge in such acts.
channaka Friday, 27 January 2017 01:36 PM
It's just a matter of deleting an odd/unused rule from the constitution that will benefit a marginalized community in distress. Doing this won't make all gays suddenly happy (because most gays needs therapy to adjust themselves to their orientation, and they have sex as if everyday is the end-of-the-world) but something is better than nothing.
rosebud Friday, 27 January 2017 12:56 PM
Mr PresidentIts time you stopped imposing your views from the Dark Ages on others. LGBT persons are human beings - and surely deserve equal rights. Get with it man via DM Android App
Jayantha Friday, 27 January 2017 12:25 PM
Why are we in such a hurry to legalize gay marriage etc. Most counties in the west have not done this, leave alone in asia. Lets develop the country, pioneer science and technology, help find a cure for cancer, achievements we can be proud of. Legalizing homosexuality should be the least of our priorities
SHANTHAPRIYA Friday, 27 January 2017 11:42 AM
charges for normal marriage - Rs 5000charges for homosexual marriage Rs 1 millionGood income for for the govt
Lord Wolfstein Friday, 27 January 2017 11:27 AM
Minister Rajitha Senaratne should go into psychiatric treatment, because homosexuality is not a disease, but homophobia.
Asrar Friday, 27 January 2017 01:48 AM
Yes specially few in the parliament and cabinet (PM,FM to start with)
Lord Wolfstein Friday, 27 January 2017 11:23 AM
A person is not born gay, but bisexual. After that, no one can stop the development to a sexual orientation, even no outdated laws.
Channaka Friday, 27 January 2017 11:21 AM
It is high-time for the Sri Lankan medical community (especially psychologists and psychiatrists) to come out and express their long-standing view that supports Rajitha's surprisingly positive move. World Health Organization no longer identifies homosexuality as a mental disorder; why is it still a criminal act in Sri Lanka? Who made it illegal//incriminating- The British colonizers and today Britain has legalized gay marriage but we still pathetically stick to the archaic/invalid rule. Homosexuality was never a problem when our kings ruled this country.
Pf Friday, 27 January 2017 11:18 AM
Sexual right is a fundamental human right.It is ofcourse a physical need of any creature.All these people who utter NO too practicing but shy to legalise them.Better to legalise in order to privent from spreading Germs. via DM Android App
Lord Wolfstein Friday, 27 January 2017 11:12 AM
Jude you are wrong. There are not only a few hundred homosexuals in Sri Lanka. Millions of Sri Lankans are homosexual and they have a right of equal treatment.
BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 27 January 2017 10:17 AM
The whole world has recognized the third gender and gay rights. It has been proven scientifically and biologically that a person is born gay genetically and thus need to be recognized and provided his / her rights accordingly. In a country of stupid citizens that even does not understand minority rights, religions and cultures, this is not at all a surprise.
Thanos Friday, 27 January 2017 10:16 AM
Koheda yanne? Malle pol!
dulan Friday, 27 January 2017 08:36 AM
On this one Rajitha is telling the truth and President just trying to score brownie points
Jude Friday, 27 January 2017 08:16 AM
C'MON people, we've tons of other issues to resolve in SL!!?? Put your energy and effort to resolve something that benefit millions of people in SL!!??And the Govt engaged in a subject that going to please few hundred people!!!?? Moreover, millions of SL not ready to talk about it nor comfortable dealing with an issue that got Social Stigma attached to it!!???
ANTON Friday, 27 January 2017 07:35 AM
LOOK AT THEIR FACES, THE ANSWER IS HIDDEN THERE.
Lanka Perera Friday, 27 January 2017 07:12 AM
because all civilized countries in the world have done so....
Jagath Leanage Friday, 27 January 2017 05:59 AM
From the day this government came in to power , UNP is trying very hard to legalize HOMOSEXUALITY . Why ?
Ranjitdea Friday, 27 January 2017 04:21 AM
After all they are too human beings. Treat them with compassion and equally.
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