Sri Lanka Abandons Gay Tourism Partnership

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - The Sri Lankan government has officially pulled out of an LGBTQ tourism initiative it launched last September, caving to religious backlash and leaving queer travelers wondering whether the island nation even wants their rupees. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority partnered with Equal Ground, the country's leading LGBTQ rights organization, on a program designed to attract queer tourists through inclusion training for tour operators, hotels, and taxi drivers. It lasted five months before the Attorney General confirmed the government's withdrawal.

What Happened Behind the Curtain

In September 2025, SLTDA chairman Buddhika Hewawasam sent a letter to Equal Ground Executive Director Rosanna Flamer-Caldera recognizing "the potential of this project to diversify our tourism markets and position Sri Lanka as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming destination for all travelers," according to the Washington Blade. That hopeful language didn't survive the blowback from Buddhist monks and Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, who pushed the government to reverse course. Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe confirmed on Feb. 10 that the SLTDA had officially rescinded its support for the campaign. The timing is brutal. Sri Lanka drew 2.3 million foreign visitors in 2025, according to tourism data, and the government was counting on tourism revenue to prop up an economy still recovering from recent crises. But apparently not revenue from queer travelers.

What Equal Ground Is Doing Now

Despite the government's retreat, Equal Ground isn't backing down. "The fact that the letter has been rescinded doesn't make any difference. We're still doing work with the tourism industry," Rosanna Flamer-Caldera said, according to the Washington Blade. That's the thing about nonprofit organizing; you get used to working without official support. In a statement on April 10, Flamer-Caldera acknowledged the criticism but made clear the organization's stance: "We are highly disappointed and we feel that the rhetoric that is going around is a deliberate attempt to tarnish the LGBT+ community." Founded in 2004, Equal Ground has been advocating for LGBTQ rights in Sri Lanka for more than two decades, and it's not about to let a government cold shoulder derail its tourism work. The organization is continuing private outreach to hotels and tour operators who see the economic value in welcoming queer travelers, regardless of what politicians decide.

The Legal Reality on the Ground

Here's what makes this withdrawal especially frustrating: Sri Lanka is actually making legal progress on LGBTQ rights, even as the tourism board runs away from the community. Sections 365 and 365A of the country's colonial-era penal code still criminalize consensual same-sex relations, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison. But those laws are rarely enforced, and there's meaningful momentum toward repeal. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women ruled in 2022 that the criminalization law violated Flamer-Caldera's rights. The Sri Lankan Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that a bill to decriminalize homosexuality is constitutional, according to the Washington Blade. Sri Lanka has also issued Gender Recognition Certificates to transgender individuals since 2016, putting it ahead of many countries in the region on trans rights. So the framework exists for legal reform. What's missing is political will.

The Economics of Saying No Thanks

Tourism boards don't usually turn down entire demographic segments unless the political heat gets unbearable. And that's exactly what happened here; religious leaders made it clear that they considered LGBTQ tourism incompatible with Sri Lankan values, and the government folded. But consider what that calculation leaves on the table. LGBTQ travelers, particularly those from Western countries, tend to be high-value tourists with disposable income and extended travel timelines. They book boutique hotels, hire private guides, eat at nice restaurants, and stay longer than package tour groups. They're exactly the kind of tourists a developing country's economy benefits from. Thailand figured this out years ago and has built a thriving queer tourism industry. India's major cities quietly welcome LGBTQ travelers despite similarly ambiguous legal landscapes. Sri Lanka had a chance to position itself as the next inclusive destination in South Asia and chose to pass. What's left is a patchwork. Private operators who want queer business will continue training staff and marketing to LGBTQ travelers. Guesthouses in Colombo and beach towns will still fly pride flags and list themselves on queer travel forums. But without government backing, there's no coordinated safety messaging, no official recognition that queer travelers are wanted, and no institutional pressure on the industry to step up. For solo LGBTQ travelers considering Sri Lanka, that means doing extra homework. Check recent reviews on queer travel platforms. Book accommodations that explicitly welcome LGBTQ guests. Connect with local organizations like Equal Ground before arrival. Keep a low profile in rural areas and around religious sites. It's the same cautious calculus queer travelers use across much of Asia, just with the added sting of knowing the government briefly considered making it easier before deciding not to bother. The silver lining, if there is one, is that Equal Ground isn't waiting around for official permission. The organization has spent two decades building community and networks in Sri Lanka's tourism sector, and a withdrawn letter from a government chair doesn't erase that work. Queer travelers who want to visit Sri Lanka can still find welcoming spaces; they'll just have to look a little harder than they might have if the government had kept its word.