Mahanuvara is governed by federal Sri Lanka law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- 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
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- Unknown
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Mahanuvara is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since 1995
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
In 1995, Sri Lanka amended its laws against homosexuality to also include women. The change was made after the laws were criticized for being discriminatory on the basis of sex.
The punishment for homosexuality is up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine, and there is evidence that the law has been enforced in recent years.
In 2022, a bill was introduced that would repeal Sri Lanka's laws against homosexuality, but it has not passed.
The punishment for homosexuality is up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine, and there is evidence that the law has been enforced in recent years.
In 2022, a bill was introduced that would repeal Sri Lanka's laws against homosexuality, but it has not passed.
Same-sex marriage in Mahanuvara is unrecognized.
Current status
Unrecognized
Same-sex marriage is not recognized or banned in Sri Lanka.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Mahanuvara is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Sri Lanka, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Mahanuvara 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.
Gender-affirming care in Mahanuvara is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
Gender-affirming care is legal, but difficult to access in Sri Lanka. Adult Sri Lankans require parental consent before sex reassignment surgery, and it was reported in 2023 that injections required by trans men were not available.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Mahanuvara is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Sri Lanka does not legally recognize a third gender.
LGBT discrimination in Mahanuvara 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."
"'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."
LGBT employment discrimination in Mahanuvara is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Sri Lanka.
LGBT housing discrimination in Mahanuvara is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Sri Lanka.
Same-sex adoption in Mahanuvara 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.
Intersex infant surgery in Mahanuvara is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on "normalization" surgeries performed on intersex infants. However, there are also no reports of these surgeries occurring.
Serving openly in military in Mahanuvara is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Blood donations by MSMs in Mahanuvara is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
On Sri Lanka’s National Blood Transfusion Website, under the donor donation criteria, it states that donors must be free from "Risk Behaviors". On the site, the risk behaviors listed include homosexuals.
Conversion therapy in Mahanuvara is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
Equal age of consent in Mahanuvara is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal, so no legal age of consent exists for it.
Legal Rights
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This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Mahanuvara to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
- Unknownmiles 25 contributions
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- JerofDoorhandle 3 contributions
- Ro_Guy 2 contributions
- JordanB3047 2 contributions
- Nathan 1 contribution
- jadeywadey 1 contribution
- chae 1 contribution
- Muhammadaji2022 1 contribution
Mahanuvara LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
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Alternative names: Mahe Nuwara, Maha Nuwara