LGBT rights in Sri Lanka explained

See also: Sexual minorities in Sri Lanka.

Location Header:Sri Lanka
Legal Status:Illegal since 1885 (as British Ceylon)
Penalty: (Not enforced, ruled unenforceable by the Supreme Court, legalisation proposed)[1]
Gender Identity Expression:Legally permitted following medical vetting; surgical intervention not legally required
Adoption:No
Military:No

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Sri Lanka face significant challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.

Article 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code, which dates from the time of colonial British Ceylon, criminalizes sexual acts deemed "against the order of nature". The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled favourably for decriminalization and has agreed that any imposition of penalities are incompatible with the current times, but does not have the authority to invalidate laws, acts, or governmental actions even if they are incompatible with a higher morality.[2] A bill aimed at decriminalization was submitted to parliament in August 2022 has been given the support of the ruling government.[3] [4] Furthermore both major parties from across the political spectrum have generally expressed support for homosexuality.[5]

Transgender people can legally change gender following medical approval and surgical intervention is not required. In 2016 the Government of Sri Lanka launched Gender Recognition Certificates and provided clear guidelines to medical workers on how to positively deal with the transgender community.[6] Furthermore both major parties from across the political spectrum have generally expressed support for transsexuality.

There are no anti-discrimination laws, but the government has stated that discrimination based on sexuality and gender is implicitly banned under the existing constitution, and it has proposed to provide anti-discrimination laws as part of a wider constitutional overhaul currently under negotiation.[7] [8]

Background

See also: Homosexuality in Sri Lanka and Lesbianism in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka did not have any legal restrictions for the general population against homosexuality until the colonial period. It had no legal influence from Zoroastrianism, Islam or Christianity,[9] and most religious influence prior to colonialism came from Mainland India and East Asia.[10]

The current legal framework of Sri Lanka,[11] mostly derives from European-Christian constructs[12] as they stood during the colonial era, and were imported into the island.[13] It is predominantly British law[14] with some earlier colonial Roman-Dutch law.[15] The most prominent of the discriminatory laws[16] is the now seemingly dormant (sometimes reported as "decriminalized") Section 365, that criminalizes homosexual sex.[17] Further problems with the colonial legal framework include the lack of protections and supports for the sexual minority community, including the lack of specific wording fighting discrimination against sexual minorities nor the recognition of transgender and third gender concepts[18] (who have been discriminated against through the Vagrants Ordinance).[19] The Supreme Court and the various governments of Sri Lanka have countered this situation[20] by including sexual minorities within generic anti-discrimination clauses[21] and attempting to set dormant a variety of laws, although the colonial legal code does not provide the Supreme Court with the power to create or repeal law.[22]

It is unclear whether there have been any prosecutions of LGBTQI for consensual sex (as opposed to non-consensual sex), and NGOs state that there have been no prosecutions for consensual sex. In 2015, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka suspended (thereby overturning on appeal) a rare 2003 custodial sentence of a lower court, stating that the finding of guilt was correct due to the law remaining on the books, but that it would be inappropriate to impose a penality on consensual sex. Human rights organizations and asylum seeker organizations have reported that police and government workers used the threat of arrest to assault, harass, and sexually and monetarily extort LGBTQI individuals.[23] [24] However, several sources, including that by the IGLA president and Sri Lankan native Sherman de Rose, state that the laws are not used to jail and prosecute LGBTQ individuals. [25]

Dharmic moral codes

Sri Lankan Buddhism generally tolerated homosexual sex more than heterosexual sex, though preferred celibacy to even procreation unlike in western philosophical traditions.[26] The Pali Canon explicitly mentions that sexual practices are generally forbidden in the monastic code (for monks), but sex of a homosexual nature would receive a lesser punishment to the point that certain types of homosexual sex would only require a confession and no punishment. This code was written on the island of Lanka in 29 B.C. and only limited to monks but not the general population.[27] [28] [29] [30] [31] The ancient Chinese translations of the Āgama also does not challenge this. The lay man is only asked to avoid sex with certain classes of people (underage, married, monks etc...).[32] [33] [34] This is further supported by the omission of homosexuality in the list of sexual misconducts compiled in the 14th century Upāsakajanalankara, which was written in Sri Lanka in the 14th century and became influential again in the 17th century Kandyan kingdom.[35] [36] [37]

Political and community attitudes

Politicians from both sides of the political spectrum have expressed support for homosexuality and transsexuality, including the two leaders of the two major parties.

Sri Lankan society generally has a tolerant view of homosexuality. There are even some traditions that promote transgender people, although the third gender seems to have disappeared from the island, despite having roots in Sri Lankan culture. As a result, these laws have been loosely enforced (if at all), and discrimination by police and others is often associated with corruption or attitudes towards sexual promiscuity, which also applies to heterosexuals. Some issues, including the status of sexual minorities within the military service, and intersex rights,[38] have largely escaped both mainstream discussion and discussion by LGBT lobbies. Other laws and legalities that can negatively affect sexual minorities are more widely discussed in the Sexual minorities in Sri Lanka article.

In 1994, Sherman de Rose set up Companions on a Journey (CoJ), the first LGBT support group in Sri Lanka.[39] The Women's Support Group split off from CoJ in 1999, forming a separate organisation for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women.[40] Equal Ground was then set up as an LGBTQI group.[41]

The influential Buddhist chapter, Asgiriya Chapter, came out in support of extending rights to LGBT, including support to amend the constitution.[42]

In March 2021, in order to commemorate Zero Discrimination Day, the President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted "As the president of #lka I am determined to secure everybody's right to live life with dignity regardless of age, gender, sexuality, race, physical appearance, and beliefs."[43] The Financial Times opinioned that this was the first public acknowledgement by the South Asian Head of State about everyone's right not to be discriminated on their sexuality or gender.[44]

In August 2021, after a video of a homophobic counsellor caused controversy on the internet, the College of Psychiatrists clarified that modern medicine does not consider homosexuality to be an illness and further called for homosexuality to be decriminalized; unlike psychiatrists, counsellors are not regulated and do not require degrees.[45]

In 2023, a report reveals the majority of 69% of population opposed same-sex unions' legalization, with a 60% strongly opposed it.[46]

A poll by The Social Scientists Association in 2021 found that "72,5% of respondents believed that LGBT people should not be punished for their sexual identity, 65% said a LGBT person can do a job as well as any other person and 51.4% said they would support legislation to ensure the rights of LGBT people".[47]

A survey by Equality Fund in 2018 found that 12% of Sri Lankan respondents were LGBTQI.

Legality of same-sex sexual acts

Article 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code, which dates back to 1885[48] (while it was British Ceylon), criminalizes sexual acts deemed "against the order of nature". For much of the law's history, the prohibition applied to only to males; in 1995, Article 365 was amended to replace the word "males" with "persons" so that same-sex sexual activity between consenting adult females was also outlawed in addition to that between consenting adult males.

Ordinance to Provide a General Penal Code for Ceylon 1883

See also: Article 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code. Sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code refer to unnatural offences and acts of gross indecency.[11] [49] In 1995, the section was amended slightly to expressly prohibit "gross indecency" no matter the gender of the participants.[50]

Section 365

Section 365 (Penal Code 1883) states:[51]

Section 365A

Section 365A (Penal Code 1883) states:

Section 399

This section is often used against transgender people for purported "gender impersonation". It has been used in situations where a person has converted to another gender yet bears a different gender on their documentation. The section provides: "a person is said to 'cheat by personation' if he cheats by pretending to be some other person, or by knowingly substituting one person for another, or representing that he or any other person is a person other than he or such other person really is."

Supreme Court

In a decision of Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Luwihare, PC. J wrote in his opinion: "This offence deals with the offences of sodomy and buggery which were a part of the law in England and is based on public morality. The Sexual Offence Act repealed the sexual offences of gross indecency and buggery in 2004 and [is] not an offence in England now." Further, the opinion recognised that:[52] The Constitution of Sri Lanka prohibits the Supreme Court from striking down Article 365A because the Constitution does not provide the Supreme Court with the power of judicial review. The second republican constitution was amended to state "all bills passed in parliament shall become law after it receives the Speaker's Certificate (79), it will be final and cannot be questioned in any court of law (80.3)".

In 2017, the Supreme Court had opinionated that it would be inappropriate to impose custodial sentences on people who were accused of engaging in homosexual sex.[53]

Government

Both the socialist government of Rajapakse and the conservative government of Sirisena have stated that "discrimination against LGBT people was unconstitutional and that the application of sections 365 and 365A in a manner that was discriminatory against LGBT persons was unconstitutional".[54]

In November 2017, Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle stated that the government would move to decriminalize same-sex sexual activity.[55] The country's constitution does not provide the Supreme Court the powers to completely expel a law from the books.[56] [3] An attempt by the government to include its repeal into the human rights action plan was prevented by opposition from the United People's Freedom Alliance.

1841 Vagrants Ordinance

This act criminalizes soliciting and acts of indecency in public places. Section 7 is being used against sex workers and sexual minorities. A maximum term of six months and a fine of 100 rupees is imposed as punishment.[16]

Repeal of Article 365

Premnath C. Dolawatte of the ruling nationalist Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna political party submitted a Private Member Bill to Parliament on 23 August 2022 aiming to repeal the colonial-era law banning homosexual sex.

President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe said "we are for it" and his government would not oppose the private members bill, but that "you have to get the support of individual members [for the bill to pass in [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|parliament]]]. It’s a matter of their private conscience."[57]

In May 2023, the Supreme Court greenlit the bill.[58]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Sri Lankan family law does not recognize same-sex marriages, same-sex civil unions, or provide equal rights to same-sex live-in couples.

In 2015, Sri Lanka voted in favour to provide equal partnership benefits to same-sex couples at a UN assembly vote, at which regional countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh voted against. Following the decision, an op-ed in the Daily Mirror stated that homophobia was not a Sri Lankan value.[59]

Marriage was not legally recognized in pre-colonial Sri Lanka, when the predominant form of kinship was what is now called as "living together" or cohabiting live-in couples. As in India, the aim of the colonial laws were to codify marriage arrangements for the purpose of administrating divorce proceedings.[60]

Discrimination protections

Constitutional 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.[61] 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".[62]

Discrimination against sexual minorities remains a problem. Several lawyers and charities have called for specific wording in the constitution stating that discrimination against sexual minorities is illegal.[16]

Law

While there is interest in creating non-discrimination laws and there have been at least two legal judgements[61] [52] favourable towards protections, none have been created or passed.[7] [63] [64] [61]

In 2017, the Government announced they would update their Human Rights Action Plan with an addendum that bans discrimination against anyone based on his or her sexual orientation. However, no laws were put in place following this statement.[65]

Both the Nationalist government of Rajapaska and the Conservative government of Sirisena have stated "that discrimination against LGBT people was unconstitutional and that the application of sections 365 and 365A in a manner that was discriminatory against LGBT persons was unconstitutional".[54] The Sri Lankan Supreme Court handed down a judgement in the case of Officer-in-Charge, Police Station, Maradana v Wimalasiri and Jeganathan, in which sections 365 and 365A were deemed unenforceable under the constitution.[52] Despite this judgement and the government statements, the only parliamentary effort to repeal the laws criminalizing homosexual acts was not passed., no further attempts to repeal the laws have been put before Cabinet or introduced in the legislature.[66]

Legal action challenging prejudicial police training

In November 2021, Equal Ground (a long-established LGBTQI rights advocacy organisation), with others, filed a petition at the Court of Appeal seeking a Writ of Prohibition against the training programme for the police where "malicious, erroneous, and discriminatory remarks" were made about LGBTIQ persons. The Court of Appeal decided on 8 December 2021, that this petition could proceed.[67] [68]

Gender identity and expression

Recognition of gender identity

Transgender persons may change legal gender. This has been allowed since 2016, following advice from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.[69] The commission's advice elicited a directive to agencies from the Ministry of Health.[70] The legal change requires bureaucratic certification which may be onerous to achieve; while typically requiring medical intervention and vetting before being permitted, the international legal charity, point out there is no legal requirement in Sri Lanka for any surgical intervention. This has been confirmed in a legal ruling.[54]

According to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report:[71]

Although performed on occasion, gender-confirming surgery is relatively inaccessible within Sri Lanka, as many hospitals lack the highly specialised surgical units and staff. Human Rights Watch (HRW), in its "All Five Fingers are Not the Same" report (2016), interviewed doctors and patients. One physician who treats transgender individuals told HRW that Sri Lankan doctors were often unfamiliar with surgical treatments of transgender patients. Patients who had experienced gender-confirming treatments in Sri Lanka, reported that they could be met with ignorance, curiosity and even ridicule from medical staff. Some avoided public hospitals and clinics due such experiences, thus increasing the costs of treatments. Obtaining hormone therapy is similarly fraught. Such obstacles in the path of gender-confirmation increases the difficulty of obtaining any legal gender recognition. Besides providing a legal procedure for gender recognition, there is no other government recognition or assistance for transgender people.[72]

Classification as mental illness

Gender dysphoria is classified as a mental health disorder or illness.[7] Sexual and romantic orientations are not classified as mental illness by either the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, or the College of Community Physicians.[73] Despite this, and that all medical practitioners in Sri Lanka are members professional colleges, and all Sri Lankan colleges are signatories to the WHO code of ethics—which deprecates any treatment of homosexuality as a disease or illness, on scientific and ethical grounds—doctors are often sought out by families to administer "treatment" to their LGBTQI members. There are sufficient doctors willing to perform such treatments that it is reported as a regular occurrence.[74] [75]

Third gender

The concept of third gender is not recognized under Sri Lankan law.

Blood donation

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) bans people who engage in risky behaviour from donating blood. It classifies male same-sex intercourse as a risky behavior, along with unrelated behaviours such as drug use and having more than one sexual partner. Consequently, men who engage in anal sex with men are banned from donating blood through the NBTS.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Country policy and information note: sexual orientation and gender identity, Sri Lanka, November 2021 (accessible version) . GOV.UK . . …homosexuality in Sri Lanka is definitely an offence, but conceded that it is indeed open to interpretation… Homosexuality, among other things, comes under “unnatural offences” or acts of a sexual nature that go against nature, as per section 365 of the Penal Code. According to Kularathne, however, no cases have been reported of anyone actually being prosecuted for being gay….
  2. Web site: 2020-10-25 . Sri Lanka’s legislative skullduggery without judicial review at ‘committee stage’ exposed . 2024-05-02 . EconomyNext . en.
  3. Web site: 16 September 2018 . Road to reform- LGBTIQ rights in Sri Lanka . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223157/http://www.themorning.lk/road-to-reform-lgbtiq-rights-in-sri-lanka/ . 23 January 2019 . 23 January 2019 . themorning.lk.
  4. Web site: 26 November 2017 . Sri Lanka will decriminalise homosexuality, official vows . 2022-12-12 . LGBTQ Institute . en-US.
  5. Web site: Sri Lanka president says government will not oppose decriminalization bill . Lavers . Michael K. . September 12, 2022 . May 26, 2024 . Washington Blade . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224200129/https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/09/12/sri-lanka-president-says-government-will-not-oppose-decriminalization-bill/ . February 24, 2024.
  6. Web site: 2016-12-18 . For 'Mind and Soul': Sri Lanka Eases Way To Legal Recognition of Transgender People . 2023-02-11 . Global Press Journal . en-US.
  7. Malalagama . A. S. . December 2017 . The Shifting Landscape of Gender Identity and the Situation in Sri Lanka . Sri Lanka Journal of Sexual Health and HIV Medicine . 3 . 45 . 10.4038/joshhm.v3i0.63 . On ... 15 November 2017 the UN reviewed Sri Lanka's record on human rights and made recommendations to amend sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code, which targets Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) people in consensual, adult relationships. In response to issues raised, Deputy Solicitor General underlined the government's commitment to reforming Sri Lanka's penal code to ensure that it meets international human rights standards. . free.
  8. Web site: Sri Lanka Outright International . 2023-02-11 . outrightinternational.org . en.
  9. Web site: Casey . 2016-06-07 . Queer in the Age of the Queen: Gender and Sexuality of the Mid Modern Period in Victorian England and North America . 2024-01-01 . Molly Brown House Museum . en-US.
  10. Web site: Buddhism in Sri Lanka: A Short History . Perera . H.R. . 2007 . May 26, 2024 . Access to Insight . https://web.archive.org/web/20240210005631/https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/perera/wheel100.html . February 10, 2024.
  11. Web site: Chapter 19 Penal Code . https://web.archive.org/web/20191206194344/http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/research/srilanka/statutes/Penal_Code.pdf . 6 December 2019 . 11 May 2021 . Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
  12. News: Full text: Supreme Court judgment on Section 377. The Times of India. 6 September 2018 . 26 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126152403/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/full-text-supreme-court-judgement-on-section-377/articleshow/65708101.cms. 26 January 2019. live.
  13. Web site: Repeal Colonial Era Laws that Entrench Discrimination and Perpetuate Violence . 22 January 2017 . 26 January 2019 . 3 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180203043915/https://groundviews.org/2017/01/22/repeal-colonial-era-laws-that-entrench-discrimination-and-perpetuate-violence/ . live.
  14. Web site: University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. hrlibrary.umn.edu. 26 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180913025611/http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/research/srilanka/legalsystem.html. 13 September 2018. live.
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  16. News: Fonseka . Piyumi . 6 July 2018 . Removing barriers for LGBT + people in Sri Lanka . English . Daily Mirror . https://web.archive.org/web/20220107123216/https://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Removing-barriers-for-LGBT-people-in-Sri-Lanka-152293.html . 7 January 2022.
  17. Web site: Sri Lanka LGBTI Resources: Rights in Exile Programme. refugeelegalaidinformation.org. 26 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190125073528/http://www.refugeelegalaidinformation.org/sri-lanka-lgbti-resources. 25 January 2019. live.
  18. Web site: Rapid Situation Assessment of Transgender Persons in Sri Lanka . December 2016 . Institute for Participatory Interaction in Development . 11 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181129054346/https://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/publication/Sri_Lanka_Rapid_Situational_Assessment_of_TGs_2017.pdf . 29 November 2018.
  19. Web site: Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity in Sri Lankan Perspective . Wijayath . Aruni . 27 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190127094542/http://womenstudies.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Aruni-Wijayath.pdf . 27 January 2019.
  20. Country Policy and Information Note Sri Lanka: Sexual orientation and gender identity and expression . Home Office . ((Country Policy and Information Team (CIPIT))) . October 2018 . Government of the United Kingdom . Version 3.0 . ...hate crimes are a common occurrence in Sri Lanka, where the victims have been targeted on account of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Examples of such incidents include death threats, sexual assault, rape, physical attacks, as well as emotional and psychological abuse by public and private actors. . Home Office . 1 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190725195918/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/745437/Sri_Lanka_-_SOGIE_-_CPIN_-_v3.0__October_2018_.pdf . 25 July 2019.
  21. Web site: Human Rights Violations Against Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Sri Lanka: A Shadow Report . June 2016 . Equal Ground . 11 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190127094125/https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CEDAW/Shared%20Documents/LKA/INT_CEDAW_NGO_LKA_24294_E.pdf . 27 January 2019.
  22. Web site: The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka . 2008 . Parliament Secretariat . 11 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190620225217/http://www.supremecourt.lk/images/stories/supreme_court/constitution17th.pdf . 20 June 2019.
  23. Web site: Custom report Excerpts: Sri Lanka . 11 May 2021 . U.S. Department of State.
  24. Web site: 13 January 2012 . Responses to Information Requests: LKA103948.E . https://web.archive.org/web/20190620225215/https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/03/06/LKA103948.E.pdf . 20 June 2019 . 11 May 2021 . Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
  25. Web site: UNHCR Web Archive . 2024-04-15 . webarchive.archive.unhcr.org.
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  27. Web site: Pali canon . Britannica . en . May 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523090230/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tipitaka . May 23, 2024.
  28. Web site: Homosexuality and Theravada Buddhism . A.L. De Silver . Buddha Net's Magazine Articles . May 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507003417/https://www.buddhanet.net/homosexu.htm . May 7, 2024.
  29. Web site: Male Homosexuality and Transgenderism in the Thai Buddhist Tradition . 2024-04-04 . buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw.
  30. Jackson . P. A. . 1995 . Thai Buddhist accounts of male homosexuality and AIDS in the 1980s . The Australian Journal of Anthropology . 6 . 3 . 140–153 . 1035-8811 . 12291560.
  31. Web site: 2017-03-26 . Changing Sex or Changing Gender in Pāli Buddhist Literature . 2024-04-04 . The Scholar & Feminist Online . en-US.
  32. Web site: 1997 . Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu . Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta . To Cunda the Silversmith . 2011-03-14 . Access to Insight . AN 10.176 . Abandoning sensual misconduct, he abstains from sensual misconduct. He does not get sexually involved with those who are protected by their mothers, their fathers, their brothers, their sisters, their relatives, or their Dhamma; those with husbands, those who entail punishments, or even those crowned with flowers by another man.
  33. http://www.dhammatalks.net/suttacentral/sc/zh/ma128.html 優婆塞經
    • Web site: Ajahn Punnadhammo . Same Sex Marriage . The lay man is told to abstain from sex with "unsuitable partners" defined as girls underage, women betrothed or married and women who have taken vows of religious celibacy. This is clear, sound advice and seems to suggest that sexual misconduct is that which would disrupt existing family or love relationships. This is consonant with the general Buddhist principle that that which causes suffering for oneself or others is unethical behaviour. ("Unskillful behaviour" would be closer to the original.) There is no good reason to assume that homosexual relations which do not violate this principle should be treated differently..
    • Book: Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya . Uposatha Sila The Eight-Precept Observance . 1993. There are four factors of the third precept (kamesu micchacara)
    1. agamaniya vatthu — that which should not be visited (the 20 groups of women).
    2. asmim sevana-cittam — the intention to have intercourse with anyone included in the above-mentioned groups.
    3. sevanap-payogo — the effort at sexual intercourse.
    4. maggena maggappatipatti — sexual contact through that adhivasanam effort.
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  54. Beyond Gender: The South Asian experience. ((i-Probono)). https://web.archive.org/web/20201230103719/https://i-probono.com/download/?id=5503. 30 December 2020. live. The Magistrate recognised D's gender recognition certificate and the validity of his marriage. It was also accepted that no surgical interventions are required to legally recognise someone's gender identity under Sri Lankan law. The case was dismissed.. 120.
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    • News: Samaraweera . Buddhika . Psychiatrists want homosexuality decriminalised . 15 July 2022 . The Morning - Sri Lanka News . 19 August 2021 . The SLCP [Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists] also stated that certain individuals conducting training programmes on mental health were spreading erroneous messages to the effect that homosexuality is due to some disease of the mind or body. "However, the SLCP would like to categorically state that we do not endorse the view that homosexuality is due to a disease of the mind or body. Modern-day psychiatrists do not identify or diagnose homosexuality as a mental health disease or treat it as such," it added. The SLCP also noted that the myth that homosexuality is a mental illness is not in keeping with evidence-based science practised by its membership..
    • Chandradasa . Miyuru . Suicidal ideation in gay adolescents in the context of cultural stigma and criminalized homosexuality in Sri Lanka . International Journal of Social Psychiatry . 26 November 2018 . 65 . 1 . 83–84 . 10.1177/0020764018812921 . 30477379 . 53771074 . 0020-7640. Letter to editor. The illness model of homosexuality has been discarded decades ago.. free .
    • News: ((EN staff reporter)) . Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists says homosexuality no illness, calls for decriminalisation . EconomyNext . 19 August 2021 . en.
    • Press statement regarding human sexuality and mental illness . Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists . 18 August 2021 .
    • Web site: FPASL endorses the statement made by the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists regarding human sexuality and mental illness . The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka . 15 July 2022 . en . 25 August 2021.
    • Karunatilake . Harindra . Evidence based medicine: ideology, hegemony, statistical gaze and beyond part three . Ceylon Medical Journal . 27 December 2021 . 66 . 3 . 110–112 . 10.4038/cmj.v66i3.9488 . 35435432 . 246590224 . free .
  74. News: Chamara . Sumudu . Forcefully changing identities and orientations: Conversion therapy or coercion therapy? . The Morning - Sri Lanka News . 28 February 2021.
  75. ((Home Office)) . Country policy and information note: sexual orientation and gender identity, Sri Lanka. November 2021. 7 April 2022. 6.5 Conversion Therapy . https://web.archive.org/web/20220407015712/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sri-lanka-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-sri-lanka-november-2021-accessible-version. (accessible version) . https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sri-lanka-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-sri-lanka-november-2021-accessible-version . GOV.UK . 15 July 2022 . en.
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