Colombo, 19 January 2026 — The Right to Life Human Rights Centre has called on the Government of Sri Lanka to urgently reform and repeal outdated colonial-era laws that continue to be used to harass, intimidate, and arbitrarily detain members of the LGBTIQ community.
In a formal letter addressed to Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Justice and National Integration, Right to Life highlighted the continued misuse of specific provisions of the Penal Code and the Vagrants Ordinance by law enforcement authorities, despite constitutional guarantees of equality and equal protection before the law.
The organisation raised serious concerns regarding Penal Code Sections 365 and 365A, noting that their vague and archaic language allows for broad interpretation. According to Right to Life, these provisions are frequently used to justify surveillance, harassment, and arbitrary arrests of LGBTIQ individuals, even in cases involving consensual relationships.
The letter also drew attention to the misuse of Penal Code Section 399 (cheating by personation), which has been applied against transgender persons by treating gender expression aligned with gender identity as a criminal offence. Right to Life stated that such practices effectively criminalise transgender identity and contribute to systemic discrimination.
In addition, the organisation condemned the continued enforcement of the Vagrants Ordinance of 1841, describing it as an obsolete law disproportionately used against transgender persons and sex workers. Individuals are often arrested for alleged “idling” or “disorderly behaviour” in public spaces, sometimes resulting in detention without adequate judicial oversight.
Referring to recent legal developments, Right to Life recalled that the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ruled in May 2023 that a Private Member’s Bill seeking to decriminalise consensual same-sex relations was consistent with the Constitution, thereby removing a major legal barrier to reform.
In light of this determination, Right to Life urged the government to expedite amendments to Penal Code Sections 365 and 365A, issue immediate directives preventing the misuse of Section 399 and the Vagrants Ordinance, and repeal the Vagrants Ordinance in favour of modern legislation that upholds human dignity and fundamental rights.
Copies of the letter were also sent to Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Harini Amarasuriya, and Ananda Wijepala, calling for coordinated government action to align Sri Lanka’s legal framework with international human rights standards and ensure dignity and equality for all citizens.