Sri Lanka Gay Travel Index 2026
Score = Legal 18/60 + Scene 7/40 = 25/100
Updated 7 Oct 2026 · release 2026.3.
A live score, not an annual report — it recomputes as laws, rulings and the scene itself change. See what moved in 2026.
Legal composite · Legal milestones · Scene on the ground · Frequently asked questions
Same-sex intimacy is criminalized or actively repressed here. Consult your government travel advisories before any trip; this listing is informational, not an endorsement of travel.
Legal composite — 18/60 points
| Criminalization | Criminalized |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● No not recognised |
| Anti-discrimination | ● No |
| Gender recognition | Legal route — recognition possible via medical or administrative process |
| Enforcement reality | Harassment — police or state harassment documented |
Research note: 2016 GRC no surgery; arbitrary arrests persist — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Legal composite, five components
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
Legal milestones
Background, not travel advice — how the current status came to be. For planning a trip, rely on the current score, tier and scene sections above; 2026 movements are tracked in the sourced change log.
- 1883The British colonial Penal Code criminalized acts 'against the order of nature' under Section 365, with penalties up to 10 years' imprisonment. ↗
- 1995A penal code amendment extended the criminalization of same-sex activity to women by replacing 'males' with 'persons'. ↗
- 2017The government signaled it would pursue decriminalization, and courts held consensual adult sex should not be policed by the state. ↗
- 2022MP Premnath C. Dolawaththa submitted a private member's bill to Parliament to repeal the Section 365 criminalization. ↗
- 2023The Supreme Court cleared the decriminalization bill as constitutional in May, declaring the penalties unenforceable, though Parliament had yet to pass it. ↗
- TodaySame-sex activity remained criminalized on paper pending the repeal bill, though enforcement was minimal. ↗
Sources: ILGA World · Human Dignity Trust · Equaldex. Each milestone links to a reference source ↗.
Scene on the ground — 7/40 points
Detailed scene metrics (for researchers)
| Gay bars per million | 0 |
|---|---|
| Saunas per million | 0 |
| Events per million | 0 |
| Coverage grade | A |
| Scene score | 7/40 (raw scene index 18/100) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sri Lanka safe for gay travellers?
Sri Lanka is rated High risk on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026: same-sex intimacy is criminalized or actively repressed. Its legal safety component is 18/60. On enforcement reality, police or state harassment is documented.
Is same-sex marriage legal in Sri Lanka?
No. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Sri Lanka. Overall legal status: Criminalized.
Does Sri Lanka have a gay scene?
Yes. GayOut lists 21 LGBTQ+ venues in Sri Lanka, including 0 dedicated gay bars, across 1 cities with a scene, and tracks 1 Pride parades there.