(COLOMBO) – LGBTIQ+ community representatives in Sri Lanka briefed Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana on the issues faced by their LGBTIQ+ community in the country, officials said on Friday.
They had drawn the attention of the Speaker to the Private Member’s Bill brought in by MP Premnath C. Dolawatte to amend Sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code of Sri Lanka.
A private member’s Bill to amend the penal code in favour of the LGBT Q plus people was presented to Parliament by MP Premanath Dolawatta in April last year, which seeks to amend the penal code in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and others.
The Community has repeatedly complained of harassment and ill-treatment from the police, State officials and even from sections of the general public.
The LGBTQ community is already a registered trade union organization in the country as well with a large number of their members employed in the country’s apparel industry.
