Politics

 Former Health Minister and medical professional Dr. Channa Jayasumana has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging him to immediately suspend a Sri Lanka Tourism initiative promoting LGBTIQ tourism. In his letter dated September 27, Dr. Jayasumana said that while he respects the dignity and orientation of all individuals, the project poses serious cultural, social, and public health risks that have not been properly considered. He stressed that Sri Lanka’s identity, rooted in Buddhist principles of discipline, compassion, and moral restraint, and enriched by Hindu, Christian, and Islamic traditions, should not be compromised for short-term economic benefits. Tourism policy, he argued, must reflect the nation’s cultural values and avoid creating division within society. Highlighting public health concerns, Dr. Jayasumana pointed to a sharp increase in HIV cases among youth, noting that infections in the 15–24 age group had risen significantly in recent years. He warned that associating tourism with sexuality could accelerate HIV transmission and place unsustainable pressure on Sri Lanka’s already overstretched healthcare system, which is battling high rates of non-communicable diseases and limited mental health services. He further cautioned that the country’s international reputation — strengthened by successes such as the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis — could be jeopardized if poorly regulated tourism branding triggered new outbreaks. Dr. Jayasumana urged the President to reverse the initiative and instead promote sectors such as wellness tourism, traditional medicine, eco-tourism, heritage, and spirituality, which he said align better with global trends and Sri Lanka’s cultural values.