Bill to amend Penal Code to protect LGBTQI community Petition to be heard on Thursday

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Special Determination petition filed challenging the constitutionality of the private member’s bill submitted to parliament seeking to amend Sri Lanka’s penal code, with the aim of protecting the country’s LGBTQI community, is to be heard on April 20 by the Supreme Court.  

This petition has been listed to be taken up for determination before Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Vijith Malalgoda and Justice Arjuna Obeysekera.  

A Retired Brigadier of the Sri Lanka Army Athula De Silva, Political analyst Shenali Waduge and prominent businesswoman Jehan Hameed filed this Special Determination petition naming the Attorney General and Parliamentarian Premnath C. Dolawatte as respondents. This petition was filed through Attorney-at-Law Dharshana Weraduwage.  

Through this petition, the petitioners are seeking a declaration that the bill requires the approval by the people at a Referendum in addition to the 2/3 approval of the Parliament. 

 
The Petitioners state that the proposed amendment has failed to look into and preserve the best interest of the children. The petitioners feared that the LGBT movements may promote their programmes in schools and impact the free decision making of the school children and may also give rise to Transgender Children.