Sri Lanka, Sept. 30 -- Following severe concerns raised by the public within the past few days, the Tourism Ministry today said the government had not decided to run a specific tourism promotion campaign targeting LGBTQ tourists.

In a statement, the Ministry said that while such proposals-among others-had been presented for consideration, they were part of broader discussions aimed at reinforcing Sri Lanka's image as a safe and welcoming destination for all travelers. Any future initiatives will be carefully evaluated within the framework of national tourism priorities and social harmony, the Ministry said.

"Sri Lanka is a country that respects all genders and communities, along with their individual identities. This respect, however, ...