Writ petition filed challenging endorsement of LGBTIQ tourism projects in Sri Lanka

Colombo, Oct. 27 (Daily Mirror) - A writ petition has been filed before the Court of Appeal challenging the legality of an alleged endorsement by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) of projects aimed at promoting and developing LGBTIQ tourism in Sri Lanka.

The petition has been filed by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, President and Convenor of the Federation of National Organisations, Dr. Wasantha Bandara, Secretary of the Patriotic National Movement and two others. 

They are seeking an order staying the operation of a letter allegedly issued by the Chairman of the SLTDA endorsing such initiatives.

According to the petitioners, they had discovered a letter dated September 9, 2025, written by the Chairman of the SLTDA and the SLTPB, titled “Endorsement of the Project on Promoting and Developing LGBTIQ Tourism in Sri Lanka.” 

The letter is said to have formally recognised a proposal by the organisation Equal Ground to promote LGBTIQ-inclusive tourism and to have authorised coordination with other tourism sector entities to facilitate the project.

The petitioners have named Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam and several others as respondents.

They state that the issuing of the said letter has sparked widespread public protests, drawing objections from the Mahanayakes and Buddhist clergy, the Archbishop and a range of religious, patriotic and nationalist organisations, as well as political parties.

The petitioners further noted that in response to public outcry, the Prime Minister informed Parliament that the Government had no intention of promoting LGBTQ tourism in the country.

However, the petitioners contend that despite this official clarification, the Chairman of the SLTPB has not withdrawn, revised or amended the said letter, thereby maintaining its validity and enforceability. 

They also allege that the Chairman appeared on public media attempting to defend the endorsement, which, according to them, was met with further criticism.

The petitioners argue that the initiative contravenes constitutional and cultural principles, pointing out that in its Special Determination on the Gender Equality Bill (2024), the Supreme Court held that the Constitution recognizes equality only on the basis of sex (male and female) and not on gender or gender identity.

They maintain that recognising or promoting “gender identity” encompassing individuals identifying outside the male-female binary, as represented by the terms LGBTQ, LGBTIQ, or LGBTQ+ — is inconsistent with the constitutional framework.

Further, they claim that such initiatives undermine the State’s constitutional duty under Article 9 to give the foremost place to Buddhism and to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while respecting the religious freedoms guaranteed under Articles 10 and 14(1)(e) of the Constitution.

The petition has been filed through Attorney-at-Law H.M. Thillakarathna and is to be supported by Senior Counsel Canishaka Witharana.