SriLanka, July 20 -- A Fundamental Rights petition challenging the legality of Government circulars permitting individuals to change their gender identity through medical procedures was today dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The petition was filed by retired Sri Lanka Air Force veteran Shantha Jayathilaka, naming former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe, incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and several others as respondents.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere, dismissed the petition after considering the preliminary objections raised by the respondents, including that it was time-barred.

The petitioner alleged that success...