Sri Lankan government taking steps towards equality

Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated his government will not oppose a private member’s bill decriminalising homosexuality when it is presented to Parliament.

At present, same-sex relationships are illegal in the South Asian island nation, and there are other discriminatory laws targeting trans people and sex workers.

This bill, by MP Premnath Dollawatte, seeks to legalise same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults by amending sections 365 and 365A of the penal code. To pass, it will require votes of support from individual members of parliament, with President Wickremesinghe saying, “It’s a matter of their private conscience”.

The news comes after the government has been accused of forcing intrusive ‘virginity’ tests on its LGBTIQ+ citizens to prove sexual activity. Since 2017 at least 7 people have been violated, according to a Human Rights Watch Report.

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