Sri Lanka withdraws from LGBTQ+ inclusive tourism support campaign

Sri Lanka has formally withdrawn its support for a campaign promoting the island nation as an inclusive destination for LGBTQ+ tourists. This decision follows significant pressure from prominent religious groups within the country, marking a notable reversal of a strategy aimed at diversifying tourism and bolstering foreign exchange reserves.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) had previously endorsed a proposal from the advocacy group EQUAL GRAND on September 9, envisioning an advertising campaign to welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender travelers. SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam had championed the initiative as a means to project Sri Lanka as "safe and welcoming" and expand its tourism markets. Sri Lanka, an Indian Ocean island nation home to approximately 22 million people, has a considerable population identifying as LGBTQI+, with one study finding 12% of individuals aged 18-65 identifying as such.

However, a senior official confirmed that the government subsequently succumbed to religious pressure, leading to the withdrawal of its backing, The Telegraph reports. The official's statement, "Since this letter is withdrawn, you can infer that the government doesn’t want Sri Lanka a holiday destination for LGBT travellers," indicates a clear shift in official policy. Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe also confirmed the withdrawal of the letter of support.

This progressive tourism initiative was met with strong condemnation from influential religious figures. Senior Buddhist monks and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, head of the Catholic Church, publicly accused the government of promoting "new and unacceptable cultural practices." Furthermore, FE Dias, representing the pro-life group Cultura Vitae, asserted that fostering LGBT tourism would encourage a "sodomite life," threatening the nation's social fabric and representing an attempt to "normalise deviance." Four chief Buddhist prelates wrote to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging him to halt what they described as the "unethical promotion of homosexuality," contending that same-sex relations conflict with Sri Lankan and Buddhist cultural norms.

This policy reversal occurs against a backdrop where same-sex activities remain criminalized under Sri Lanka’s penal code, carrying potential penalties of up to ten years in prison—a legal framework that starkly contradicts principles of inclusivity.

While Attorney General Ranasinghe acknowledged that "people in Sri Lanka are still uncomfortable speaking on this topic" due to cultural reasons, he also stated that what tourists "do in their private time, it is nobody’s concern as long as they don’t engage in such activities in public." This nuanced stance, however, highlights a prevailing national hesitancy to openly embrace same-sex relationships, even as the government has previously signaled openness to decriminalization, a move welcomed by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk last year.

Despite the tourism sector's quiet welcome of queer travelers, rights groups report that LGBTQI+ Sri Lankans routinely face stigma and harassment. Nuwan Mellawa, a rights campaigner, emphasized the importance of protection for vulnerable communities, stating, "No faith teaches cruelty. Leaders should protect, not endanger, vulnerable communities."