Asia » Sri Lanka
Gay Guide Sri Lanka
According to paragraph 365a, homosexuality is prohibited in Sri Lanka. The UN therefore demanded a clarifying statement from Sri Lanka as to whether homosexuality is legal in Sri Lanka. The official answer was given in 2014 and stated that discrimination based on sexual orientation was not constitutional and that the sodomy law did not apply to homosexuals but to all groups of the population. It should be noted that no one has been prosecuted for gay sex for 20 years. In 2017, the law was declared unenforceable by the Supreme Court, but due to the limited power of the Supreme Court in Sri Lanka, it is controversial whether homosexual acts are now decriminalised or not. In 2011 the Colombo Pride "Equal Ground" took place for the seventh time. The fact that those celebrating were homosexual as well as heterosexual can be considered a particularly great success. Before, during and after the 2009 armed conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, extrajudicial executions, abductions and torture were a daily occurrance. The situation, though, is still alarming, according to Amnesty International.
Cities in Sri Lanka
ColomboGalle | HikkaduwaNegombo |
Location: South Asia
Initials: LKA
International country code: 94 (omit 0 from area code)
International access code: 00
Language: Sinhalese,Tamil, English
Currency: 1 Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR) = 100 Cents
Population: 20,328,000
Capital: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura (government)
Religions: 70% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Christian, 7% Muslim
Climate: Constant warm climate with most rain in May and Oct.