- 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
Suggest Public Opinion Data
Public Opinion
Perceived Acceptance of Gay People ?
Ranked #53 out of 119 regions surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)
(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
51.4%
of Sri Lankans said LGBT go against their religion
44.4%
of Sri Lankans said it would be shameful to have a LGBT child
59.5%
of Sri Lankans said renting their house to a LGBT person would be a problem
51.4%
of Sri Lankans would support legislation to ensure the rights of LGBT people
27%
of Sri Lankans say they personally know someone who is transgender
24%
know someone who is lesbian or gay
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 Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Sri Lanka.
Top Contributors
1 User live in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka LGBT Organizations
Share Region
LGBT Sri Lanka Flag
Compare Sri Lanka
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)
