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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.

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 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.
Details
Sources:
www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/23…
www.humandignitytrust.org/c…
www.ibanet.org/sri-lanka-pr…
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Jan 1, 1885–1995
Male illegal, female legal
Before 1995, homosexuality was criminalized only between men under Section 365 of the 1883 Penal Code inherited from British colonial rule.
Details
Sources:
www1.umn.edu/humanrts/resea…
www.humandignitytrust.org/c…
www.state.gov/reports/2020-…
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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
Sources:
www.gov.uk/government/publi…
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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.

However, there are cases where Sri Lanka’s law against impersonation has been used to target transgender people for their gender expression, despite the law not explicitly criminalising it.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
www.humandignitytrust.org/w…
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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
Sources:
database.ilga.org/api/downl…
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Until Jun 16, 2016
Illegal
Before June 16th, 2016, there was no legal framework for transgender people to change their gender.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/sri-lanka-lgbti
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Gender-affirming care in Sri Lanka

?

Gender-affirming care in Sri Lanka 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.
Details
Sources:
www.dfat.gov.au/sites/defau… - 3.174
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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
Sources:
outrightinternational.org/o…
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LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since 2022
Illegal in some contexts
There are some protections based on sexual orientation.

The Women Empowerment Act, No. 37 of 2024, states that one of the objects of the Act shall be to protect women from all forms of discrimination based on gender and 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
Sources:
www.parliament.lk/uploads/a…
www.parliament.lk/uploads/a…
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Until 2022
No protections
Before 2022, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity was a protected class from discrimination in any context.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Sri Lanka is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Sri Lanka.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Sri Lanka.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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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
Sources:
travel.state.gov/content/tr…
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Intersex infant surgery in Sri Lanka

?

Intersex infant surgery in Sri Lanka 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.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
database.ilga.org/sri-lanka-lgbti
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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 states that donors must be free from "Risk Behaviors". On the site, the risk behaviors listed include homosexuals.
Details
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2023060…
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Conversion therapy in Sri Lanka

?

Conversion therapy in Sri Lanka is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
Details
Sources:
www.gov.uk/government/publi…
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Equal age of consent in Sri Lanka

?

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

Current status
Since 1995
N/A
Same-sex sexual activity between men and between women has been illegal since 1995; therefore, no legal age of consent exists for it.
Details
Sources:
www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/23…
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Jan 1, 1885–1995
Female equal, male N/A
Between 1885 and 1995, male homosexuality was illegal. However, female homosexuality was legal and the age of consent was equal to that of heterosexual sex.
Details
Sources:
www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/23…
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LGBT Rights by District

View the LGBT laws in each individual district of Sri Lanka.

    Equality Index ?
    29 / 100
    Legal Rights
    24 / 100
    Public Opinion
    34 / 100

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    Common queries:
    • Is it illegal to be gay in Sri Lanka?
    • Is homosexuality legal in Sri Lanka?
    • Is gay marriage legal in Sri Lanka?
    Alternative names: Sri Lanka/Ilankai (local name)

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