A Stance on the Ongoing Debate Surrounding a Local Tea Commercial
The recent controversy ignited by a video advertisement from a prominent Sri Lankan tea company, facing calls for a consumer boycott due to its perceived focus on LGBTIQ issues, underscores a critical intersection between corporate social responsibility (CSR), human rights, and market freedom.
As the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, we assert that the existence of LGBTIQ individuals is not a ‘social trend’ to be promoted, but an undeniable reality within our diverse population. Every citizen, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is entitled to equal dignity, respect, and protection under the law. Advocating for their rights is not about endorsing a lifestyle; it is about upholding fundamental human rights principles against discrimination.
Upholding Freedom and Opposing Boycotts
The backlash against the tea company’s advertisement which, by engaging with a sensitive topic, fulfils a degree of social responsibility is deeply concerning. Calls for product boycotts and the destruction of a private sector entity on the basis of its CSR involvement represent a move towards an anti-free-market policy.
This is particularly ironic when such campaigns are championed by those who claim to advocate for economic and personal liberties. Freedom of expression, which extends to corporate messaging, and the right to conduct business without undue coercion are pillars of a healthy democracy. Discouraging essential social responsibility engagements by private companies through such punitive measures ultimately harms the entire society.
The Imperative for Penal Code Reform
This discussion brings into sharp focus the urgent need to address archaic laws that continue to threaten the liberties of gender minorities. Specifically, the retention of Sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code is incompatible with modern human rights standards and the spirit of equality.
These colonial-era provisions criminalize consensual acts and can be weaponized to subject members of the LGBTIQ community to harassment and persecution. We strongly urge the Government of Sri Lanka to amend or repeal these outdated sections immediately. Legal reform is necessary to ensure that our judicial framework reflects the constitutional guarantees of equality and privacy for all Sri Lankans.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka must move beyond selective acceptance of human rights. Just as ethnic rights are recognized, the rights of gender and sexual minorities must also be affirmed. We call upon all stakeholders the government, civil society, and the private sector to resist pressures that undermine freedom of expression and to actively champion a society where all citizens, without exception, can live with dignity and without fear.