Endorsement of an LGBTIQ initiative unconstitutional and therefore unlawful

On 9 September 2025, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) formally endorsed a project spearheaded by EQUAL GROUND (apparently an NGO) to promote and develop LGBTIQ tourism in Sri Lanka.

- BY CANISHKA G WITHARANA

In this letter, titled “Endorsement of the Project on Promoting and Developing LGBTIQ Tourism in Sri Lanka”, the Chairman not only recognised this initiative, but also granted authority to coordinate with the tourism industry of the country.

This endorsement reflects the first state-backed initiative explicitly positioning Sri Lanka as an LGBTIQ-inclusive destination. It sends a strong signal to both domestic and international stakeholders that Sri Lanka is seeking to capture the global “Pink Tourism” market.

Commitments

In his letter, the Chairman endorsed the initiative of EQUAL GROUND and acknowledged the purported value of promoting LGBTQ tourism through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&1I) programs.

He granted authority to coordinate with tour operators, hotels, training institutes, guides, and drivers to implement the proposed training and awareness programmes. The Chairman further recognised the project as having the potential to diversify Sri Lanka’s tourism markets and to contribute to the expansion of the country’s global tourism footprint.

He has expressed willingness to facilitate and present the programme to the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Tourism and Foreign Employment in order to ensure state-level recognition.

Government Policy

This letter cannot be viewed in isolation. It is a policy pronouncement of the Government, since the SLTDA and SLTPB are state entities under the Ministry of Tourism and Foreign Employment. By empowering EQUAL GROUND to lead on LGBTIQ tourism engagement, the letter reflects an official policy stance that LGBTIQ recognition and promotion are part of Sri Lanka’s tourism development strategy.

The Constitutional Barrier