Sri Lanka: ensurg equaly and non-discrimatn for lbian, gay, bisexuals and transgenr people | Internatnal Commissn of Jurists

Contents:

• GAY SRI LANKA
• SRI LANKA: ENSURG EQUALY AND NON-DISCRIMATN FOR LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUALS AND TRANSGENR PEOPLE
• IS RANIL GAY?
• A LONG & HARD BATTLE OF A SRI LANKAN ACTIVIST FOR GAY RIGHTS
• EXPLORE OUR FAVOURE 10 PLAC GAY SRI LANKA

GAY SRI LANKA

The announcement after the Uned Natns (UN) cricised the Sri Lankan penal system for crimalisg homosexualy. The Sri Lankan ernment received seven specific remendatns, which clud the crimalisatn of homosexualy – which is currently punished by a maximum of 10 years jail. However, spe the new promis, LGBTQ cizens will still ntue to face many obstacl as Health Mister Rajha Senaratne said that the ernment was still “agast homosexualy.

SRI LANKA: ENSURG EQUALY AND NON-DISCRIMATN FOR LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUALS AND TRANSGENR PEOPLE

Sri Lankan polics have historilly been rife wh anti-LGBTQIA (Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, Queer/Qutng, Intersex, and Asexual/Ally) sentiment, wh the llective never tly takg a stance favour of the matter. In the past, the polil arena has been overn wh homophobia, wh exampl such as when, back 2017, durg a parliamentary bate between MP Mangala Samaraweera the Mister of External Affairs at the time, a somewhat openly LGBTQIA+ intifyg dividual, and MP Wimal Weerawansa, the Opposn bench threw the term “ponnaya” at Samaraweera, which is a highly pejorative homophobic slur.

IS RANIL GAY?

Former Print Mahripala Sirisena publicly affirmed his stance agast the LGBTQIA+ muny when he announced early 2017 that he rejected the proposed bill to crimalise homosexualy the island: “Samalgika yojanava visikalé mamai”. And at a public rally held November 2018, Sirisena went on to make the famo homophobic remark aimed at the LGBTQIA+ muny accg then Prime Mister Ranil Wickremghe of havg rejected natnal valu and havg entered a “butterfly life” (samanala jeevhaya), implyg a queer liftyle.

A LONG & HARD BATTLE OF A SRI LANKAN ACTIVIST FOR GAY RIGHTS

Peiris an attempt to crimalise homosexual sex 1995.

However, durg the bate, several lawmakers notified the Parliament that homosexual relatns between two women were not crimalised unr the existg 100-year-old lonial legislatn, and nsequently the sectn was reword to expand the maximum 12-year sentence to femal. As June and PRIDE month to an end, Sri Lanka will ntue celebratg PRIDE (virtually) thorough July as well, and this year we saw a number of Lankan policians raise their voice agast discrimatn and homophobia and speak out favour of the LGBTQIA+ muny, many of whom have already been alli offerg support for years their own way and others takg a stand for the first time. Gay Sri LankaSri Lanka is home to many cultural marvels, rarts, amazg beach, tea and elephants, to name jt a handful.

EXPLORE OUR FAVOURE 10 PLAC GAY SRI LANKA

Sadly, Sri Lanka isn't the most gay-iendly untry. We only listed gay-rated hotels and service provirs Sri Lanka. The tweet has opened up a much-need nversatn on sexual orientatn, genr inty and exprsn (SOGIE) Sri Lanka, particularly regardg the Government’s obligatn to ensure that lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr (LGBT) people are not discrimated agast law or practice.

In Sri Lanka, homophobia is primarily seen as cultural issue, but there are ditns that tim are changg. It is monly said that Ranil Wickremghe is gay, but rarely published.