IGP issues circular on seminars discriminating LGBTIQ community

21 November 2023 11:02 pm - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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COLOMBO (Daily Mirror) - The Attorney General's Department has informed the Court of Appeal that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued a circular preventing police officers from conducting training sessions, lectures or seminars which dehumanize and discriminate against the LGBTIQ community in the country.

Several civil society activists had filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the ever-rising abuse, harassment and discrimination against individuals of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) community, at the hands of the Police.

The petition came up before the Court of Appeal for support, the court issued notices on the respondents, and thereafter, the State settled the case by agreeing to issue a circular by the IGP, addressed to all the senior police officers of the Sri Lanka police, preventing them from organizing or carrying out any acts which are discriminatory towards the LGBTIQ community or their rights and also prohibiting them from violating the right to equality under article 12(1) of the Constitution, of the members of the LGBTIQ community.

President's Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena informed court that this would duly address the concerns of the petitioners. This circular has now been publicly issued by the IGP and the case was concluded on those terms.

The petitioners Equal Ground, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Tamara Andrea Flamer-Caldera, Jade Sison Jayawardena, Anusha Shyami David, Gowrie Ponniah, Savithri Roseanne Rodrigo, Chamindra Katugaha, Marisa Sharika Anjali Jayewardene and Kalpanee Nuwangee Gunawardana had filed this petition on behalf of the rights of the LGBTIQ community in the country.

They have cited Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramarathna, Ama Dissanayake, a counsellor and psychologist, who conducted a training programme at the Police Auditorium in Kandy and Deputy Inspector General of Police Chandana Alahakoon as respondents.

The petitioners state that according to an island-wide survey conducted by the petitioners in 2020-2021, titled “Mapping LGBTIQ Identities in Sri Lanka”, 12% of the total population interviewed for the survey identified themselves as LGBTIQ, a projected total of 1,469,574 individuals, within the projected base of persons between the ages of 18-65 in Sri Lanka.

The petitioners state that it is now common knowledge that members of the LGBTIQ community face grievous prejudice in their daily lives, and, most concerningly, that they even find themselves in situations that pose a direct threat to their lives and wellbeing, at the hands of other individuals and public authorities.

Sanjeeva Jayawardena PC with Counsel Rukshan Senadheera appeared for Equal Ground while Suranga Wimalasena DSG appeared for the Attorney General.

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Comments - 21

ERAN Wicks Tuesday, 21 November 2023 11:44 PM

Why do they need to make a scene. Anyone can do whatever behind closed doors.

Jude Wednesday, 22 November 2023 03:14 AM

Who give a damn about LGBTQI HALF OF THE POPULATION LIVING ON ONE MEAL A DAY!!

Roisin Wednesday, 22 November 2023 10:56 AM

Such selfish comment. Do you have any idea how much the LGBT community is suffering in this country? On only one meal too.

Gert Jan, the Netherlands Wednesday, 22 November 2023 11:01 AM

So who gives a damn about cricket? I believe you do very much?

Some hope Wednesday, 22 November 2023 11:17 AM

Yes that maybe! But here's a fun fact to think about too - discrimination and prejudice

DOT Wednesday, 22 November 2023 06:47 AM

Good Move!

Sandy Wednesday, 22 November 2023 09:49 AM

Transgender rights are okay , gays are not natural it is a deviation and should be criminal.Otherwise anyone can brain wash children and engage in such activities.

Roisin Wednesday, 22 November 2023 10:54 AM

Obviously you are clueless.

Ignorance is a virtue Wednesday, 22 November 2023 11:00 AM

I hear you, and you are entitled to your opinion, but your comment reflects a widely held misconception that doesn't reflect scientific evidence and understanding of human development. Opinions are good to hold, but what good are they if they aren't informed by knowledge and will only perpetuate more bigotry?? Your own loved one could identify as LGBTIQ but may not even wish to confide in you BC of your hate! Think about that!

Sokrates Wednesday, 22 November 2023 12:02 PM

What kind of homophobic scumbag are you? But often people who publicly agitate against homosexuality are themselves homosexuals and only do so to hide their own homosexuality. Do you belong to this sick group of people? Homosexuality is genetic. No one's sexual orientation can be changed by "brainwashing". Incidentally, bisexuality is strong among male Sri Lankans. Apart from that, sex offenders are almost exclusively heterosexual. In addition, we no longer live in the Middle Ages and every kind of sexual orientation must be accepted. It's good that your kind of anti-social view is now obsolete.

An ally Wednesday, 22 November 2023 10:55 AM

It is encouraging to see the judiciary and law enforcement authorities work in unison to acknowledge the abject discrimination non-heteronormative persons living in SL ensure on a daily basis. This validates the efforts by civil society allies and the LGBTIQ community. I hope this snowballs into more enduring change by other institutions both state

Onlooker Wednesday, 22 November 2023 11:12 AM

Is this order by IGP legal. Is the IGP himself not approved by the Constitutional Council.

Citizen Wednesday, 22 November 2023 12:10 PM

I expected this out come when IMF entered, this is a condition under the package. Anyway it is a man created behaviour not God created, this should be handled by the respective religious heads to turn them to normal human beings with preaching.

Acid Wednesday, 22 November 2023 12:20 PM

Check out where homosexuality has gone in the US. This is not good for the country's children. The last pride march in new york saw gays chanting "We are here, we are queer and we are coming for your children" ... take it seriously.

sam Wednesday, 22 November 2023 12:51 PM

Is the IGP holding the position legally?

Sokrates Wednesday, 22 November 2023 02:17 PM

@ citizen. Are you one of those religious people who believe that the earth and humans were created by a god 6,000 years ago? Then you definitely don't believe that it is scientifically proven that homosexuality is neither a disease (and therefore not "curable") nor can it be achieved through manipulation, but is genetically determined. Then I recommend that you and your fellow believers pray homosexuality away from this world in daily prayers.

Weirdos Wednesday, 22 November 2023 02:30 PM

In other words, the LGBTIQ are freely entitled to do whatever they want including luring young boys and girls to become one of them? I say this because in certain places, (I would not mention the places) LGBTIQs are trying so hard to brainwash youngsters and forcing them to do what they demand behind closed doors. Anything to say about that you weird scumbags?

From UK Wednesday, 22 November 2023 02:48 PM

Please don't get tangled up in this horrible mess, no end to their demands which recently resulted the first minister in Scotland in trouble too. Our culture does not fit with them. Many 'shows' will spring up grand man to man wedding, raising up girls as children between them,what not!

Hadam Wednesday, 22 November 2023 02:56 PM

@ Sokrates. Wow, you must be Class A Puff to defend like this. Whoever can be whoever they are but just don't get on the bandwagon and influence poor children towards it how likes of companies like Disney do. What is wrong is always be wrong even if the whole world believes it's right.

Ravi Wednesday, 22 November 2023 11:56 PM

Wow lots of dumb comments on here. This explains why people like the Rajapaksas keep getting re-elected and this country is in a mess. LGBTQ2 people are no different than straight people. They just want to live their lives freely without being harassed or discriminated against. Is that too much to ask for? There are more straight people who lure kids and have sex with them than LGBTQ2 . So to say that they are coming for your kids is dumb and stupid.

Chandana Thursday, 30 November 2023 04:49 AM

Its Good thing, Everyone Should Respect Humanity, we need LGBT Rights, Protect LGBT People in Sri Lanka. We suffer too much. Now Enough we much Fight.

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IGP issues circular on seminars discriminating LGBTIQ community

Comments - 21

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