Organisations and Groups working towards LGBTIQ Rights in Sri Lanka
Last updated 05 May 2022
A long history of activism
The earliest days of LGBTIQ activism can be traced back to the early 1990s. Back then it was an extreme taboo topic but one person who surely but firmly made the topic shine through was Sherman De Rose - who went on to found Companions on a Journey. Since then the island has seen many controversies, challenges, small wins and a general but slow momentum towards acceptance. Particularly driven by a new wave of young and driven individuals.
Companions on a Journey - Founded: 1995
Companions on a Journey (CoJ) was established in 1995 with Sherman de Rose as executive director. It was funded by the Dutch government and Alliance London, an English HIV/AIDS support group. CoJ immediately provoked controversy because it was the first Sri Lankan gay rights group; the offices were attacked and staff were assaulted. Homosexual acts are illegal in Sri Lanka and could receive a sentence of up to twelve years in prison. Whilst convictions are rare, it is common for people to be blackmailed or intimidated. CoJ has been campaigning since its foundation to change the law.
Official Website: Currently unavailable
Activity Level: Inactive
Contact Person: Sherman De Rose
Email:
Women's Support Group - Founded 1999
The Women's Support Group (WSG) was set up in 1999 as an offshoot from Companions on a Journey. The founders had joined CoJ and set up a support group for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, which then took on its own identity over time. The group organised a national convention for lesbians in 1999 which encountered hostility and the group also experienced discrimination from the rest of the women's movement; at the first International Women’s Day meeting at Viharamahadevi Park, some women were upset that the WSG was there and Sunila Abeysekera had to intercede on their behalf.
In 2003, around 20 women were involved. The activities of the WSG in the early 2000s included workshops in rural areas about sexuality, women’s cricket tournaments, media campaigns and "The Clothesline Project" which drew attention to the issue of violence against women. As of 2007, the WSG ran a library, a safe house in Colombo and various support groups
Official Website: Currently unavailable
Activity Level: Inactive
Contact Person: Rosanna Flamer-Caldera
Email: Unavailable
Equal Ground - Founded 2004
Equal Ground is a non-profit organization based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that advocates for political and social rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), intersex and queer people. The organization, established in 2004, claims to be the first organization in Sri Lanka that welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The organization was founded by Sri Lankan gay rights activistRosanna Flamer-Caldera and offers trilingual publications and services. It aims to achieve its goals through political activism, education, personal support, building awareness and through organised community events. It has been working more closely with lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in areas of human rights, law reform, sexual health, and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The organization continues to face many challenges working in Sri Lanka where homosexuality is stigmatised and considered criminal offence that can earn up to ten years of prison under the law. Efforts of the LGBT activists to undo the British colonial law criminalising sodomy was not repealed, but the law was expanded to include women and the penalty was worsened. Queer groups in Sri Lanka have frequently stated that some of their members have been subjected to harassment—by blackmail or by threats with exposition or arrest—by police and other people, using the legal provision
Official Website: www.equal-ground.org
Activity Level: Active
Contact Person: Rosanna Flamer-Caldera
Email: Unavailable
National Transgender Network Trust of Sri Lanka
National Transgender Network Sri Lanka is a network that is established to secure rights of the transgender persons in Sri Lanka and to improve their health conditions. Transgender is an umbrella term which in addition to including people whose gender identity is the opposite of their assigned sex (Trans men and Trans women), it may include people who are not exclusively masculine or feminine (people who are gender-queer/non-binary, e.g. Bi-Gender, Pangender, Gender Fluid, or A-gender, Androgynous, Transvestites and Cross-dressers). Therefore we include anyone who considers them as under the umbrella term ‘Transgender’.
Also see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9YYNCM1y-o
Official Website: https://www.ntnsrilanka.org
Activity Level: Active
Contact Person: Bhoomi Harendran
Email: Unavailable