The Right to Equality and the Hospitality / Tourism Industry – Public statement signed by 109 individuals and 29 CSOs.
17th October 2025 “Some will oppose change. They may invoke culture, tradition or religion to defend the status quo. Such arguments have been used to try to justify slavery, child marriage, rape in marriage and female genital mutilation. I respect culture, tradition and religion — but they can never justify the denial of basic rights”. Ban Ki-moon – As quoted in the determination of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on the Bill seeking to amend the Penal Code, SC SD No. 13/2023, 15 April 2013, message to Conference on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity On 26 September 2025, the media reported that the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority had officially endorsed a project initiated by EQUAL GROUND to raise awareness on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) with stakeholders in the travel industry in order to promote and develop LGBTIQ tourism in the country. The coverage regarding an exchange of letters between the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and EQUAL GROUND met with heavy opposition, especially from nationalist groups and religious leaders, on the speculation that it would erode cultural values. In reaction to this, there were speeches that were made in Parliament, by members of the Government and Opposition, which could be viewed as weak, discriminatory and in some instances homophobic. We, the undersigned, individuals and organisations, wish to express grave concern regarding the undermining of human rights standards and commitments in Sri Lanka with reference to this unfortunate turn of events. We also wish to impress upon the government the need for strong messaging against homophobic hate speech by actors at every level, along with expressed communications on the protection of equality and non-discrimination. The constitution of Sri Lanka places a duty upon the government to provide a safe space for every citizen who is entitled to equal protection of the law. DEI programmes are not new in Sri Lanka, and have been conducted across the private sector for many years by many actors. Globally, DEI in the tourism and hospitality industry is key for the success of hotels, restaurants and other businesses, not limited to identifying and accessing ignored and niche markets. DEI is not just a buzzword; it is essential for promoting creativity, improving employee satisfaction, widening the customer base and enhancing customer experience. DEI programmes are no different and speak with coherence to the fundamental rights chapter of Sri Lanka’s constitution, which has strong provisions of providing constitutional guarantees in relation to equality and non-discrimination. DEI initiatives go beyond accessing markets and creating an environment that is accepting of and open to all guests. Such initiatives can also empower workers in the hospitality industry and make their working environments feel inclusive and safe. We the undersigned, are concerned by the misleading and conflicting messages coming from government officials relating to DEI policies that are counter-productive to the principles of equality and non-discrimination assured by the Constitution. The current governing party, the National Peoples Power (NPP), had several commendable provisions in its election manifesto, which committed to expanding constitutional protections to ensure non-discrimination based on gender identities or sexual orientations. These included, but were not limited to: Revise discriminatory laws, including penal code provisions 365 and 365a that continue to criminalise consensual same sex relations between adults. developing a code of conduct and establishing standards for state officials on how to interact with gender identity groups. increase access to state services, including healthcare, legal assistance, social protection and justice for LGBTIQ+ communities. work towards eliminating harmful and stereotypical perceptions related to sexual orientation and gender identities. These commitments in the NPP manifesto followed several discussions with LGBTIQ+ persons who highlighted their lived realities, experiences, and challenges. The community also mobilised support for the party’s progressive, human rights-oriented agenda in order to bring about a different political culture. It is, therefore, disappointing that the government seems to be disassociating itself from its own commitments. In this ambivalent context, violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons continue to thrive and hate speech against LGBTIQ+ is intensifying. We therefore call on the government to prove its commitment to the promotion and protection of the human rights of LGBTIQ persons. We would also remind the government of the Supreme Court determination 13/2023, where many of the concerns raised against decriminalisation were taken up by the Courts and addressed. The government needs to be cognisant that the Court determined that a private member’s bill seeking to decriminalize same sex relations between consenting adults would in fact ensure that all persons would be equal before the law, and be entitled to the equal protection of the law, irrespective of their sexual orientation, and that the proposed Bill would in fact enhance the fundamental rights guaranteed to them under the constitution and enable them to live in society with dignity. Specific reflection on the court’s consideration of social and cultural ethics is required in the present context. We would also draw the government’s attention to a letter from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) dated 22 May 2025 to the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara. In its letter, the HRCSL called on the government to consider adopting the private members’ bill as a government legislative proposal to ensure its expeditious passage. We urge the government to provide strong messages articulating its intent in meeting domestic, international and its own commitments towards protecting the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, and also call on the government to condemn statements that seek to gain political mileage, by propagating homophobic hate speech against one of the most vulnerable communities in the country. We urgently call for the passage of the draft bill that was considered by the Supreme Court in 2023 to be constitutional, to be enacted as law. Signatories Individuals: Abilesha Segar Ajitha A. Anithra Varia Anusha David Aritha Wickramasinghe Ashila Dandeniya B Gowthaman Balasingham Skanthakumar Bhavani Fonseka Caryll Tozer, Rights Activist Channaka
