Description

President Maithreepala Sirisena has come under fire by several organizations over his comments on
Lesbian – Gay – Bisexual – Transgender – Intersex – Queer (LGBTIQ) community. The president at a United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) rally on 5th of November said that Prime Minister Ranil
Wickramasinghe lived a “butterfly life” and government decisions were taken by his “butterfly
caucus”. These comments were perceived as homophobic comments that was insulting the LGBTQI community. This led to protests against the comments by the LGBTQI community and others, and
formation of a group named “Butterflies for Democracy”.