For the first time in Sri Lanka, a private MP bill has been tabled in Parliament to ban Conversion Therapy, an alternative psychiatric practice perceived among believers of pseudoscience to be ‘correcting’ a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, following the dialogue raised on the harmful practice due to a controversial police seminar held in Kandy Police Auditorium last year.
The private MP bill has been tabled by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rohini Kaviratne demanding that this most unscientific and harmful practice against the LGBTIQ community in Sri Lanka be outlawed.
The bill, which seeks to protect the mental health rights of all, including the LGBTIQ community in Sri Lanka, also outlines legal action to be taken against individuals who malpractice psychology.
The social dialogue on Conversion Therapy came to light with a police seminar held last year at the Kandy Police Auditorium where a self-crowned psychological counsellor delivered very malicious and misleading facts about homosexuality. In a prompt response, the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists (SLCP) the highest government-led body on psychiatry issued a press statement debunking her claims.
Court proceedings are also being carried out against the person who conducted this seminar.
MP Kaviratne has been an active voice against conversion therapy and for the rights of the LGBTIQ community in Sri Lanka. Her private MP bill is due to be taken up in Parliament at 1 – 2 pm today (11).
Editor (LGBTIQ)
