Has the government mixed up its priorities?

It is not clear whether it is due to a mix up of priorities or ideological obsession of certain ministers, or genuine intentions, that the government has created controversies on the so-called LGBTQ tourism and the action against corporal punishment of children, at this stage.

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Already the government has presented a Bill seeking to amend the Penal Code of Sri Lanka to prohibit corporal punishment for children in all spheres, including homes, schools, and other care settings, and the Bill has been debated over a day during the last week of last month.

The LGBTQ issue has been a controversy following a letter sent by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam to Equal Ground Executive Director Ms. Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, commending an initiative to promote and develop LGBTIQ tourism in the country.

Hewawasam in his letter had "recognised the potential of LGBTQ tourism to diversify tourism markets and position Sri Lanka as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming destination for all travellers." Equal Ground is an advocacy organisation based in Colombo, that campaigns for political, social and civilian rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) individuals.

The letter opened a can of worms for the government with nationalist groups protesting and religious leaders such as the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Mahanayakes of main Buddhist chapters in the country criticising the move. Cardinal said a "strange culture" is emerging in Sri Lanka, not as a result of government policy but through the actions of certain institutions.

He questioned if they realise our children, our greatest resource which must be protected, are being influenced in this way, stressing that people born homosexual should be respected and their rights safeguarded, Cardinal Ranjith cautioned against normalising homosexuality as a lifestyle.

The Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwathu, Asgiriya, Amarapura, and Ramanna Chapters on their part had written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing strong opposition to what they described as efforts to promote LGBTQ lifestyles and amend the Penal Code to outlaw corporal punishment.