Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, has voiced strong concerns over what he describes as a coordinated effort, involving both local and foreign entities, to promote homosexuality in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at a ceremony in Colombo on Thursday, the Cardinal claimed that young men and women were being drawn into a wider initiative backed by foreign organisations and facilitated by local professionals.
“A group of psychologists are issuing certificates that allow children to change their gender identity,” he said, adding that such certifications could be used to obtain new birth certificates and subsequently enter into same-sex marriages. He also alleged that the Ministry of Health played a role by issuing relevant medical documents.
The Cardinal warned of “secret moves” to alter Sri Lanka’s marriage laws to legitimise same-sex unions, saying such efforts posed a threat to the country’s traditional values and future. “Defining homosexuality as a way of life and misleading youth from their ordinary path, including marriage, is a danger to our younger generation,” he said.
He further claimed that certain political parties and leaders were involved in promoting this agenda.