“Yes I am gay. What’s wrong with being day?”, asked former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera in an interview with a YouTube channel.

Samaraweera, a veteran politician who has now retired from Parliament, is known for his bold views on politics and sexuality.

“Many Sri Lankan think sex is a cuss-word. There is nothing like that. One’s sex life should not be a matter for someone else. No one should be judged based on their sexuality,” he added.

“Even during the time of Buddha, there were references to women who exercised free will when it came to sexuality,” Samaraweera said.

Commenting on the porn industry, Samaraweera said during the same interview that he wasn’t a “fan” of pornographic content.