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LGBT Rights in Sri Lanka

    Homosexuality
    ✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Not legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    N/A

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

Sri Lanka Surveys

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

of Sri Lankans said LGBT go against their religion

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

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

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

of Sri Lankans say they personally know someone who is transgender
know someone who is lesbian or gay

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.
Added by vviet93  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Sri Lanka

?

Same-sex marriage in Sri Lanka is not legal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1885
Not legal
Homosexual activity is not legal in Sri Lanka.
Added by danlev  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

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.
Added by equaldex  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

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 Jan 2016
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Surgery is not required to legally change your gender in Sri Lanka, however expert testimony/diagnoses is required.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

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
No recognition of third gender.
Added by JordanB3047  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka is no protections.

Current status
Since Oct 8, 2014
No protections
The government of Sri Lanka claimed to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on 7–8 October 2014 that they think sexual minorities should be protected under existing generic anti-discrimination laws provided in the Constitution.[22] The government of Sri Lanka stated that such protections were "'implicit'" in the Sri Lankan constitution and that the government has not written a law giving 'explicit' rights yet".
Added by Ro_Guy  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until Jan 1, 2020
Ambiguous
In January 2017, cabinet members of the Sri Lankan government agreed to update their Human Rights Action Plan with an addendum that bans discrimination against someone based on his or her sexual orientation.
Added by DerekCaldera  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Sri Lanka is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections available.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections available.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Sri Lanka

?

Same-sex adoption in Sri Lanka is illegal.

Current status
Since Oct 1, 2017
Illegal
Missing laws for joint adoption, step child adoption.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Sri Lanka

?

Serving openly in military in Sri Lanka is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
According to Wikipedia.
Added by Ro_Guy  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Sri Lanka

?

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

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Banned in Sri Lanka.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Sri Lanka

?

Conversion therapy in Sri Lanka is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Some clinics are promoting this. As well homosexuality is currently illegal.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Sri Lanka

?

Equal age of consent in Sri Lanka is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log