Police chief meets LGBTQ community reps for discussion

Representatives of Sri Lanka’s LGBTQ community met with high-ranking officers of Sri Lanka Police yesterday (09 Dec), to discuss manners in which any inconvenience during interactions between the two parties could be avoided.

On Friday (Dec. 09), a discussion was held at the Police Headquarters with the participation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children Affairs and Social Empowerment with the representatives of several organizations on behalf of the LGBTQ community and their attorneys-at-law regarding the prevention of difficulties faced by the LGBTQ community while interacting with the police.

Senior police officers and officers of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment participated in this discussion, the Office of the Police Media Spokesperson said. 

Various opinions were expressed, regarding the issues and difficulties faced by the LGBTQ community, when interacting with the Police for certain matters pertaining to their daily activities, it said. 

“Sri Lanka Police paid special attention to transgender persons and the Inspector General of Police took the decision to appoint the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Woman) in charge of Range for the ‘Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women’ to take measures in this regard after maintaining coordination and to appoint the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police – Administration to act directly on behalf of the Inspector General of Police.” 

Further, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Legal Range was given necessary instructions to extend the support required, the release said.