COI Report March 2012 - UK Border Agency - Home Office

SRI LANKA 7 MARCH 2012
Investigation Department who searched their offices, questioned the staff and took
sensitive information on clients.‖
19.11 Additional information on LGBTI-related issues for Sri Lanka is available from the Sri
Lanka section of the website of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and
Intersex Association (ILGA), accessible from here.
SOCIETAL TREATMENT AND ATTITUDES
19.12 The USSD 2010 report 326 noted that ―There were LGBT organizations, and several
events were held throughout the year [2010]. In addition to pressure, harassment, and
assaults by police, there remained significant societal pressure against members and
organizations of the LGBT community.‖
19.13 The Gay Times Gay Guide, Sri Lanka 327 , (undated, website accessed on 1 February
2012) noted:
―There is a sizeable gay population in Sri Lanka but many gays and lesbians cannot
come to terms with themselves due to family pressures and behavioral expectations
imposed by Sri Lankan culture…There is no gay scene in the western sense in Sri
Lanka but there are several gay groups who lobby for reform and provide support and
counselling to gays and lesbians. Many of these groups also organise occasional gay
events such as parties and outings… The law [making homosexual activity illegal] is not
enforced and there have been no prosecutions for 50 years but in a largely Buddhist
country homosexuality is seen as a sin. Local gay groups complain that the mere
existence of the law is enough for the police and anti-gay groups to brand gays and
lesbians as ‗perverts‘ and lawbreakers. They argue it is discriminatory and stigmatises
gays and lesbians leading to abuse of gay people in their community. In 1996 The Sri
Lankan gay group ‗Companions on a Journey‘ was established.‖
19.14 As reported on the website of the Sri Lankan gay organisation Women‘s Support
Group 328 , undated (website accessed on accessed on 1 June 2011):
―The Women's Support Group has worked since 1999 for the rights of lesbians, bisexual
women and transgendered persons (LBT). Our work has been diverse and at times very
difficult. The stigma and discrimination that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered (LGBT) community faces is validated by section 365 of the Penal Code
of Sri Lanka...This law and a homophobic social environment create a smothering
atmosphere for the LGBT people. They are subject to discrimination on many fronts.
They face blackmail by others, they face threats to their family, career, and their life.
Some have been thrown out of their homes and others have lost their jobs. The legal
system and the stigma associated with being homosexual, bisexual or transgendered in
our society makes it difficult for members of the LGBT community to live their lives fully
and openly. Around you there are many people who hide their sexual and gender
326 US State Department 2010 Human Rights Report: Sri Lanka (USSD 2010), released on 8 April 2011,
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/sca/154486.htm , date accessed 11 May 2011, Section 6
327 Gay Times, Gay Guide, Sri Lanka, undated http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/Hotspots/GayGuide-action-
Country-countryid-884.html date accessed 1 February 2012
328 Women’s Support Group, Introduction, undated http://www.wsglanka.com/index.html date accessed 1
June 2011
132 The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 3 February 2012.
Further brief information on recent events and reports has been provided in the Latest News section
to 2 March 2012.