LGBT Rights in Sri Lanka

Homosexuality: ⚢
✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Gay Marriage: ⚭
✖ Unrecognized
Censorship: ✔ No censorship
Changing Gender: ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Gender-Affirming Care: Unknown
Non-Binary Gender Recognition: ✖ Not legally recognized
Discrimination: ✖ Illegal in some contexts
Employment Discrimination: ✖ No protections
Housing Discrimination: ✖ No protections
Adoption: ✖ Illegal
Intersex Infant Surgery: Unknown
Military: Unknown
Donating Blood: ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
Conversion Therapy: ✖ Not banned
Age of Consent: N/A

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Public Opinion

Suggest Public Opinion Data

According to recent survey data available, societal resistance to LGBTQ+ rights in Sri Lanka is noticeable.

OPPOSE

SUPPORT

Survey

(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)

of Sri Lankans say they personally know someone who is transgender

know someone who is lesbian or gay

Survey

(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)

of Sri Lankans would support legislation to ensure the rights of LGBT people

Survey

(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)

of Sri Lankans said renting their house to a LGBT person would be a problem

Survey

(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)

of Sri Lankans said it would be shameful to have a LGBT child

Survey

(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)

of Sri Lankans said LGBT go against their religion

Survey

(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)

of Sri Lankans said LGBT persons face discrimination by the police because they are LGBT

said LGBT persons face discrimination in finding rental housing and/or in school because they are LGBT

said LGBT persons face violence and abuse on social media because they are LGBT

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History

Homosexual activity in Sri Lanka

Homosexual activity in Sri Lanka is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status

Since Jan 1, 1885

Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)

Homosexuality is criminalized in Sri Lanka under Section 365 of the 1883 Penal Code inherited from British colonial rule. "Voluntary carnal intercourse against the order of nature" by both men and women is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Human Rights Watch and Equal Ground have found evidence of these laws continuing to be enforced by police as of 2020.

Sri Lanka is an independent nation, as such, India's 2018 Supreme Court decision to decriminalize same-sex relationships and make a similar law unenforceable does not apply.

Details

Same-sex marriage in Sri Lanka

Same-sex marriage in Sri Lanka is unrecognized.

Current status

Unrecognized

Same-sex marriage is not recognized or banned in Sri Lanka.

Details

Censorship of LGBT issues in Sri Lanka

Censorship of LGBT issues in Sri Lanka is no censorship.

Current status

No censorship

In Sri Lanka, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

Details

Right to change legal gender in Sri Lanka

Right to change legal gender in Sri Lanka is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.

Current status

Since Jun 16, 2016

Legal, but requires medical diagnosis

Surgery is not required to legally change your gender in Sri Lanka. However, expert testimony/diagnoses is required.

Details

Until Jun 16, 2016

Illegal

Before June 16th, 2016, there was no legal framework for transgender people to change their gender.

Details

Gender-affirming care in Sri Lanka

Gender-affirming care in Sri Lanka is unknown.

Current status

Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Sri Lanka

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Sri Lanka is not legally recognized.

Current status

Not legally recognized

Sri Lanka does not legally recognize a third gender.

Details

LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka

LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka is illegal in some contexts.

Current status

Since 2022

Illegal in some contexts

There is limited protection based on sexual orientation. The Personal Data Protection Act, No. 9 of 2022, states:

"'special categories of personal data' means, the personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, the processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation, personal data relating to offences, criminal proceedings and convictions, or personal data relating to a child."

Details

LGBT employment discrimination in Sri Lanka

LGBT employment discrimination in Sri Lanka is no protections.

Current status

No protections

No protections available.

Details

LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka

LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka is no protections.

Current status

No protections

No protections available.

Details

Same-sex adoption in Sri Lanka

Same-sex adoption in Sri Lanka is illegal.

Current status

Illegal

In Sri Lanka, single people are not able to adopt children, and same-sex couples are not found eligible to adopt.

Details

Intersex infant surgery in Sri Lanka

Intersex infant surgery in Sri Lanka is unknown.

Current status

Unknown

Serving openly in military in Sri Lanka

Serving openly in military in Sri Lanka is unknown.

Current status

Unknown

Blood donations by MSMs in Sri Lanka

Blood donations by MSMs in Sri Lanka is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status

Banned (indefinite deferral)

On Sri Lanka’s National Blood Transfusion Website, under the donor donation criteria, it says that donaters must be free from “risk behaviors.” On the site, the risk behaviors are listed and homosexuals are included.

Details