Sri Lankan newspaper Divaina last week published a feature about the growth of homosexuality and effeminate men in Sri Lanka and has called for urgent action to be taken in the Buddhist country. "Foreign funds are flowing to these organisations to expand and improve homosexuality in Sri Lanka," says the article, the writer going on to make claims about the number of homosexuals in Sri Lanka who become involved in commercial sex work to make a living. Equal Ground, an LGBT organisation in Sri Lanka, have translated the original article into English and published it on their blog at equal-ground.org. Equal Ground say that writer Mithra Sri Karunanayake makes accusations against the gay organisations operating in Sri Lanka and the gay community in general, and even calls for action against homosexuality throughout the country. The writer says that instead of being against homosexuality in Sri Lanka, there are several organisations and societies in the country who are working to promote it. However, two of the organisations he names, IGLU and ILGI, do not actually seem to exist. According to the translation, Mithra Sri Karunanayake argues that: "These organisations are strongly working in towns and are organising parties in five star hotels and clubs to expand homosexuality in our country. "Behind the guise of World AIDS Day, some people have worked to improve homosexuality. They have given condoms to people and they are working to protect homosexual rights. "As a Buddhist country, we have to think whether these things are suitable for our country. We can't expect a solution from Christians who are protesting to get permission to getting married in the churches. "The Bible says having sex with a man like a women is a very bad sin; unfortunately, they are still unable to understand this. We have to take action immediately like in Hebrew history where two cities Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because this is where homosexuals live." Homosexual acts between men, regardless of age, are prohibited in Sri Lanka, with a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment. The law is not enforced and there have been no prosecutions for 50 years. In 1996 the Sri Lankan gay group "Companions On A Journey" was established. During its six-year existence it has faced assaults on its founders, death threats and attacks on its headquarters. Examples of homophobia are easily found in Sri Lankan media - the country's Press Council recently ruled in favour of a paper that published a letter saying convicted rapists should be let loose amongst a lesbian conference to give them "a taste of the real thing". Ref: Pinknews.co.uk (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 12th September 2007 - 9:31am