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72% of Sri Lankans do not support laws that punish LGBT people
- 51.4% of those surveyed also supported laws that would enhance the rights of LGBT persons
By Ashanthi Warunasuriya
In a recently published islandwide survey, 3 out of 4 people said they do not support punishing or criminalizing LGBT people.
The survey, completed last year by the Westminster Forum for Democracy and recently published, covered all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. It meets the international requirements of a survey of this kind, which is capable of accurately predicting public opinions and sentiments.
51.4% of those surveyed also supported laws that would enhance the rights of LGBT persons, therefore going beyond decriminalization.
48% of people also said they would not be ashamed to have a transgender President- signifying the enormous strides in acceptance of LGBT persons in Sri Lankan society.
Support for LGBT people was overwhelmingly high in persons who identified as Buddhist and Hindu and reasonably high in those professing the Christian faith.
The Perceptions Survey results are especially important as a Private Members Bill has been submitted by SLPP MP Premnath Dolawaththa to end the criminalization of same sex relations and address discrimination towards LGBT persons.
In a recent statement, President Wickremesinghe confirmed that his Government will not oppose the Private Members Bill and Parliamentarians are free to vote on it. With nearly three quarters of the Sri Lankan public supporting decriminalization, the question remains whether Parliament will reflect the views of the people and support Dolawaththa’s Bill.
51.4% of those surveyed also supported laws that would enhance the rights of LGBT persons, therefore going beyond decriminalization.
48% of people also said they would not be ashamed to have a transgender President- signifying the enormous strides in acceptance of LGBT persons in Sri Lankan society. Support for LGBT people was overwhelmingly high in persons who identified as Buddhist and Hindu and reasonably high in those professing the Christian faith.
The Perceptions Survey results are especially important as a Private Members Bill has been submitted by SLPP MP Premnath Dolawaththa to end the criminalization of same sex relations and address discrimination towards LGBT persons.
In a recent statement, President Wickremesinghe confirmed that his Government will not oppose the Private Members Bill and Parliamentarians are free to vote on it. With nearly three quarters of the Sri Lankan public supporting decriminalization, the question remains whether Parliament will reflect the views of the people and support Dolawaththa’s Bill.
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