💬 NEW! Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!
 ▸  Asia

    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Not legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, surgery not required
    Non-binary gender recognition
    Unknown
    Discrimination
    Unknown
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Adoption
    Married couples only
    Military
    Unknown
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data

Public Opinion

Perceived Acceptance of Gay People

Ranked #53 out of 119 countries surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)

Question: "Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place for homosexuals?"

(30%) Not a good place
Good place (6%)

By The Numbers

69%
of Sri Lankans said LGBT persons face discrimination by the police because they are LGBT
87%
said LGBT persons face discrimination in finding rental housing and/or in school because they are LGBT
89%
said LGBT persons face violence and abuse on social media because they are LGBT
(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)
51.4%
of Sri Lankans said LGBT go against their religion
(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)
44.4%
of Sri Lankans said it would be shameful to have a LGBT child
(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)
59.5%
of Sri Lankans said renting their house to a LGBT person would be a problem
(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)
51.4%
of Sri Lankans would support legislation to ensure the rights of LGBT people
(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)
27%
of Sri Lankans say they personally know someone who is transgender
24%
know someone who is lesbian or gay
(Westminster Foundation for Democracy, 2021)

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 considered illegal in Sri Lanka, with up to 10 years of prison for "carnal knowledge" against order of nature.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
www1.umn.edu/humanrts/resea…
Added by vviet93  ·  3 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 1885–Sep 9, 2018
Male illegal, female legal
8-14 years in prison and fine under Section 365 and under article 365 A. Not enforced. Just got ruled unconstitutional in India on June 17, 2018.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
hrw.org/sites/default/files…


hrw.org/news/2018/09/12/sri…
Added by Ausyk  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
www1.umn.edu/humanrts/resea…
Added by danlev  ·  3 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 1885–Sep 2, 2018
Unrecognized
In August 23, 2013 Sri Lanka Had its first gay marriage. Homosexuality is currently illegal. Civil Union legalization pending.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
lankanstuff.blogspot.com/20…



quora.com/Which-countries-w…


quora.com/How-many-countrie…
Added by Ausyk  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
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, surgery not required.

Current status
Since Jul 4, 2010
Legal, surgery not required
Missing non binary options on documents.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
hrcsl.lk/english/2016/08/31…


nationalgeographic.com/maga…
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Sri Lanka

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Sri Lanka is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT discrimination in Sri Lanka is unknown.


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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
newnownext.com/sri-lanka-ba…


fourtwonine.com/2014/10/23/…
Added by DerekCaldera  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until Jan 1, 2020
Ambiguous
Discrimination is banned as of January 2017
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
newnownext.com/sri-lanka-ba…
Added by DerekCaldera  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until Nov 30, -0001
Ambiguous
Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
newnownext.com/sri-lanka-ba…
Added by DerekCaldera  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Current status
Unknown

LGBT employment discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Sri Lanka is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2017
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Sri Lanka is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Homosexuality is illegal there.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  4 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Sri Lanka

?

Same-sex adoption in Sri Lanka is married couples only.

Current status
Since Oct 1, 2017
Married couples only
Missing laws for joint adoption, step child adoption.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Homosexuals serving openly in military in Sri Lanka

?

Homosexuals 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 legal.

Current status
Legal
According to the Indian Blood Bank
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
indianbloodbank.com/donors-…
Added by Ausyk  ·  3 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.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
hrw.org/news/2018/09/12/sri…
Added by Ausyk  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Sri Lanka

?

Equal age of consent in Sri Lanka is equal.

Current status
Equal
From Indias Criminal Code of 18.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ageofconsent.net/world/chile
Added by Ausyk  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT Rights by Province

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

    Equality Index ?
    46 / 100
    Legal Rights
    51 / 100
    Public Opinion
    40 / 100
    #30
    Interest Rank ?

    Top Contributors

    Discussions

    Sri Lanka LGBT Organizations

    Suggest an organization

    Share Topic

    Map of Sri Lanka
    LGBT Sri Lanka Flag
    LGBT Sri Lanka Flag

    Compare Sri Lanka

    Afghanistan Flag

    Compare with
    Afghanistan

    Bangladesh Flag

    Compare with
    Bangladesh

    Bhutan Flag

    Compare with
    Bhutan

    India Flag

    Compare with
    India

    Iran Flag

    Compare with
    Iran

    Kazakhstan Flag

    Compare with
    Kazakhstan

    Kyrgyzstan Flag

    Compare with
    Kyrgyzstan

    Maldives Flag

    Compare with
    Maldives

    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)

    LGBT Rights in Southern and Central Asia

    Afghanistan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Afghanistan

    Bangladesh Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Bangladesh

    Bhutan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Bhutan

    India Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    India

    Iran Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Iran

    Kazakhstan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Kazakhstan

    Kyrgyzstan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Kyrgyzstan

    Maldives Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Maldives

    Nepal Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Nepal

    Pakistan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Pakistan

    Tajikistan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Tajikistan

    Turkmenistan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Turkmenistan

    Uzbekistan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Uzbekistan