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Faith leaders oppose bills promoting homosexuality in Lanka

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Religious leaders, including Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, address the media in the Colombo Archbishop House on July 25(UCAN Photo)

The three new bills are pathways to legalizing homosexuality, abortion, and prostitution, they say

(UCAN) Religious leaders, including Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, have warned Sri Lankan politicians against passing three bills that support homosexuality in the island nation ahead of the polls.

 “If you want to win the election, don’t support these bills. As religious leaders, we will initiate efforts to defeat all the political parties who support the bills,” said Venerable Agulugalle Ginananda Thera, representing Buddhism, the official religion of the Indian Ocean nation.

On July 26, the election commission announced that the 2024 presidential polls would take place on September 21. Acting President Ranil Wickramasinghe has already submitted his security deposit to run as an independent candidate.

Thera addressed a press conference on July 25 at the Archbishop’s House in the national capital Colombo.

Behind him was a banner themed ‘Degenerate and Immoral LGBTQ Laws, Destroy Civilized Society’ written in three widely spoken languages in the nation.

Religious leaders of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim communities have protested the implementation of the Gender Equality Bill, Women’s Empowerment Bill, and Penal Code Amendment Bill, labeling them as pathways to legalizing homosexuality, abortion, and prostitution.

According to them, the bills threaten family cohesion and the fabric of a civilized society.

They have asked Wickramasinghe not to implement them.

At the press conference, Thera said a small group of people is attempting to undermine the country’s religious and cultural traditions.

The country’s top court declared the Gender Equality Bill unconstitutional on June 7. The Women’s Empowerment Bill was passed in parliament, and the third one is pending in the House.

At the media briefing, Cardinal Ranjith said the Church was against laws that disrupt marriage and family life.

“As Catholics, we only accept marriage between a man and a woman. These laws disrupt marriage and family life, which are foundational to every religion we believe in,” said the cardinal, archbishop of  Colombo.

Muslim cleric Hassan Moulana said the country does not need ‘harmful’ laws.

Cultura Vitae, a local organization opposing the bills, said Western governments, through international organizations, are forcing Sri Lanka to implement the bills.

The president of Cultura Vitae, Eshan Dias, who attended the press conference, told UCA News that “these bills aim to enforce equality by requiring equal representation of LGBTQ+ content in schools, libraries, and media, recognizing all family types as equal.”

In March 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a US$3 billion loan to debt-ridden Sri Lanka to help resolve its economic crisis. The IMF loans are known for strict terms and conditions.Buddhist monks from the three main chapters wrote to Wickremesinghe on July 24 to express their displeasure with the bills.



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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

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A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday  (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police  C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector  Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

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Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.

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