Sri Lanka

Map of the 65 countries where sexual relations between people of the same sex are illegal. YELLOW countries have sodomy laws that are currently being challenged before local courts. Sri Lanka, in PINK, currently has a bill before its parliament to repeal its sodomy law. Indonesia, in ORANGE, has laws that criminalize homosexuality only in some subnational jurisdictions. All states in RED have nationwide sodomy laws and no known legislative efforts or court challenges to remove them.
LGBTQ rights update: 2025 tally and 2026 preview
Map of LGBT Rights in Asia: DARK BLUE: Equal marriage and non-discrimination law; LIGHT BLUE: Limited recognition of same-sex unions and discrimination banned in certain regions only; PURPLE: Foreign same-sex marriages recognized, adoption legal, and discrimination banned; GREEN: At least some sexual orientation discrimination banned nationwide; PALE GREEN: Sexual orientation discrimination banned only in certain regions; BEIGE: Crackdowns on LGBT rights advocacy and expression, but homosexuality legal, if only technically; ORANGE: Sodomy illegal; MAGENTA: Sodomy illegal, but discrimination against trans people prohibited.
2025 LGBTQ rights update: Many bright spots in Asia amid the gloom
Global update: The struggle for LGBTQ rights continues in Asia
Sri Lanka's new president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake: "We are dedicated to ... create a society where everyone is treated equally." (Photo courtesy of RevealInsidew.in)
The stage is set for Sri Lanka to repeal its anti-homosexuality law
Sri Lanka moves closer to repeal of its anti-gay law
President of Sri Lanka won’t oppose repeal of anti-gay law — maybe
U.N. panel’s ruling on Sri Lanka encourages lesbian activists worldwide
Sri Lanka court OKs case seeking to ban anti-LGBTI police training
Sri Lankan flag
Sri Lanka discusses LGBTQ rights ‘over and over’, but clings to the past
Global struggles for LGBTQ+ rights: Latest news from the front lines
Colombo International School [http://www.cis.lk]
Sri Lanka: British vice-principal bullies LGBT+ pupil
In a world where dozens of countries (shown in red) have anti-LGBT laws, about 400 million LGBTQI people are in legal jeopardy.
‘400 million LGBT people in jeopardy worldwide’
Caleb Orozco, leader of the United Belize Advocacy Movement
Former British colonies inch toward LGBTI rights
This month's Sri Lankan press conference on Queer Liberation presented a trans-inclusive gender balance -- four women and four men -- all sitting in front of the banner stating "Equality for all Sri Lankans" in Sinhalese, Tamil and English. (Photo courtesy of Samabima)
Needed: International support for culturally savvy LGBTQI leaders
Anti-LGBTI push at U.N. falls short
Progress and persecution from Jamaica to Myanmar