- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Not legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
Public Opinion
According to recent survey data available, societal resistance to LGBTQ+ rights in Sri Lanka is noticeable.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Sri Lanka Surveys
History
Homosexual activity in Sri Lanka is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1885
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.
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.
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.
Right to change legal gender in Sri Lanka is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Jul 4, 2010
Since Jul 4, 2010
Legal, but requires surgery
Legally permitted, but onerous process requiring medical intervention and vetting.
Despite being legal, there are many cases where men and women got arrested for living a life as a opposite gender.
Despite being legal, there are many cases where men and women got arrested for living a life as a opposite gender.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Sri Lanka is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No recognition of third gender.
LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka is no protections.
Current status
Since Oct 8, 2014
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".
LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2017
Since Jan 1, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Homosexuality is illegal there.
Same-sex adoption in Sri Lanka is illegal.
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2017
Since Oct 1, 2017
Illegal
Missing laws for joint adoption, step child adoption.
Serving openly in military in Sri Lanka is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
According to Wikipedia.
Blood donations by MSMs in Sri Lanka is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Banned 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.
Equal age of consent in Sri Lanka is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal.
LGBT Rights by district
View the LGBT laws in each individual district of Sri Lanka.
- Ampāra
- Anurādhapura
- Badulla
- Gampaha
- Gālla
- Hambantŏṭa
- Kalutara
- Kegalla
- Kilinŏchchi
- Kuruṇægala
- Kŏḷamba
- Madakalapuva
- Mahanuvara
- Mannārama
- Mulativ
- Mātale
- Mātara
- Mŏṇarāgala
- Nuvara Ĕliya
- Puttalama
- Pŏḷŏnnaruva
- Ratnapura
- Trikuṇāmalaya
- Vavuniyāva
- Yāpanaya
- Basnāhira paḷāta (Province)
- Dakuṇu paḷāta (Province)
- Madhyama paḷāta (Province)
- Mattiya mākāṇam (Province)
- Sabaragamuva paḷāta (Province)
- Uturu paḷāta (Province)
- Uturumæ̆da paḷāta (Province)
- Vayamba paḷāta (Province)
- Ūva paḷāta (Province)
Equality Rank
#30
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
1 User live in Sri Lanka
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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)
