COI Report March 2012 - UK Border Agency - Home Office
COI Report March 2012 - UK Border Agency - Home Office
COI Report March 2012 - UK Border Agency - Home Office
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SRI LANKA 7 MARCH <strong>2012</strong><br />
Investigation Department who searched their offices, questioned the staff and took<br />
sensitive information on clients.‖<br />
19.11 Additional information on LGBTI-related issues for Sri Lanka is available from the Sri<br />
Lanka section of the website of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and<br />
Intersex Association (ILGA), accessible from here.<br />
SOCIETAL TREATMENT AND ATTITUDES<br />
19.12 The USSD 2010 report 326 noted that ―There were LGBT organizations, and several<br />
events were held throughout the year [2010]. In addition to pressure, harassment, and<br />
assaults by police, there remained significant societal pressure against members and<br />
organizations of the LGBT community.‖<br />
19.13 The Gay Times Gay Guide, Sri Lanka 327 , (undated, website accessed on 1 February<br />
<strong>2012</strong>) noted:<br />
―There is a sizeable gay population in Sri Lanka but many gays and lesbians cannot<br />
come to terms with themselves due to family pressures and behavioral expectations<br />
imposed by Sri Lankan culture…There is no gay scene in the western sense in Sri<br />
Lanka but there are several gay groups who lobby for reform and provide support and<br />
counselling to gays and lesbians. Many of these groups also organise occasional gay<br />
events such as parties and outings… The law [making homosexual activity illegal] is not<br />
enforced and there have been no prosecutions for 50 years but in a largely Buddhist<br />
country homosexuality is seen as a sin. Local gay groups complain that the mere<br />
existence of the law is enough for the police and anti-gay groups to brand gays and<br />
lesbians as ‗perverts‘ and lawbreakers. They argue it is discriminatory and stigmatises<br />
gays and lesbians leading to abuse of gay people in their community. In 1996 The Sri<br />
Lankan gay group ‗Companions on a Journey‘ was established.‖<br />
19.14 As reported on the website of the Sri Lankan gay organisation Women‘s Support<br />
Group 328 , undated (website accessed on accessed on 1 June 2011):<br />
―The Women's Support Group has worked since 1999 for the rights of lesbians, bisexual<br />
women and transgendered persons (LBT). Our work has been diverse and at times very<br />
difficult. The stigma and discrimination that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and<br />
transgendered (LGBT) community faces is validated by section 365 of the Penal Code<br />
of Sri Lanka...This law and a homophobic social environment create a smothering<br />
atmosphere for the LGBT people. They are subject to discrimination on many fronts.<br />
They face blackmail by others, they face threats to their family, career, and their life.<br />
Some have been thrown out of their homes and others have lost their jobs. The legal<br />
system and the stigma associated with being homosexual, bisexual or transgendered in<br />
our society makes it difficult for members of the LGBT community to live their lives fully<br />
and openly. Around you there are many people who hide their sexual and gender<br />
326 US State Department 2010 Human Rights <strong>Report</strong>: Sri Lanka (USSD 2010), released on 8 April 2011,<br />
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/sca/154486.htm , date accessed 11 May 2011, Section 6<br />
327 Gay Times, Gay Guide, Sri Lanka, undated http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/Hotspots/GayGuide-action-<br />
Country-countryid-884.html date accessed 1 February <strong>2012</strong><br />
328 Women’s Support Group, Introduction, undated http://www.wsglanka.com/index.html date accessed 1<br />
June 2011<br />
132 The main text of this <strong>COI</strong> <strong>Report</strong> contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 3 February <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
Further brief information on recent events and reports has been provided in the Latest News section<br />
to 2 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2012</strong>.