* sri lankan gay and lesbian travel resources * Sinhalese sihnalese sinalese * Serendip Kandy Ceylon Tamil * Colombo Kolamba * queer * homosexual * southeast asia * utopia *


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Travel & Resources: SRI LANKA

Please help us keep our Sri Lanka listings up-to-date. Special thanks to Kurt, btonboz, Mike, Anton and Sahran for updates!

Advisory: Homosexual activity between consenting adult males is illegal in Sri Lanka. Vestiges of antiquated (1883) colonial sodomy laws remain, allowing for punishment of up to 12 years in jail. Lesbianism was not mentioned in law until 1995 when a bunch of men in government criminalized lesbian acts as "sadism". While the law is not being currently enforced, its existence has allowed for official discrimination and societal stigma towards homosexuals. Local gay activists are working to bring the law into the 21st century.

Utopia has assembled the world's first guide to the G&L scene in 16 Asian countries including complete listings for the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Nepal, plus "best of" listings for select major cities in a dozen other countries. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. Enjoy savvy comments and recommendations from local Utopians and gay travelers. Click here to order the collector's First Edition


General Information


Click here
for pictures and a special report from
Sri Lanka's First Gay Pride Celebration.


Organizations

  • 6699 Club
      Borupana, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka, email. For gays and lesbians.
  • AIDSline
      (94-11) 485-7575 in operation for 4 hours every weekday from 4-8pm. A telephone counseling service, open to gay men and women, launched in January 2000, by the AIDS Coalition for Care, Education and Support Services (ACCESS), offering free advice and guidance to callers seeking information on HIV/ AIDS and other sexual matters.
  • Companions on a Journey
      46/50 Robert E Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 6, (94-11) 485-1535, email. An exclusively LGBT organization founded in 1995 and focusing their work in three main areas: advocacy for protection of rights of LGBT people and decriminalisation of consenting adult homosexuality; networking; and providing peer based outreach services. They operate two drop-in centers in Colombo and Kandy. In addition, they conduct film screenings, host reading room facilities and social get-togethers. They also provide peer counseling, STI/HIV testing and treatment and provide free condoms and information on STIs/HIV through peer outreach workers.
  • Equal Ground
      PO Box 2021 Colombo, 268-2278, email. Focusing on the human rights of Sri Lanka's LGBTIQ communities. They are for the equitable status for all sexual orientations and gender identities and to eliminate the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological abuse stemming from strict interpretations of gender and sexuality.


Travel Services

  • Andrees Tours
      Email. Organizing all type of tours around Sri Lanka. Gay and lesbian-friendly.



Bolgoda

Popular Spots

Accommodations

    Click here for Bolgoda hotels and accommodations.



COLOMBO/KOLAMBA -- area code (94-1)

General Information

    Population is over 650,000 (that's about 26,000 Utopians).


Popular Spots

Bars and Clubs

    • Number 18 (mixed)
        Guilford Crescent, Colombo 7.
    • Rhythm and Blues (mixed)
        Duplication Rd, Colombo 4.


Meeting Places

      Comments from Utopians:

      "I had a really good massage by a masseur called Raj. He was nice and professional. He first discussed my requirements and then gave me an incredible and unhurried massage. He is Thai and Sri Lankan trained and looks great in his Sarong! See his website for contact info." -- yakka01, Aug 31, 2008


Meeting Places

    • Bambalapitya beach (behind Majestic City).
    • Colombo Fort, facilities in the CTB government bus stand.
    • Majestic City Shopping Mall, Galle Rd. Main lounge and facilities.
    • Wellawatta Beach



Galle

General Information

    Galle, in the southern part of the island, is a great place to visit for a few days. The Old Town and 16th century Fort are full of atmosphere and romance -- especially beautiful to walk around in the cool of the late afternoon. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the people are friendly. The shops in the Fort can be interesting and cater for a variety of tastes. The beach of Unawatuna is close by.


Popular Spots

Accommodations


Restaurants and Cafes

    • Ramparts Hotel
        Dining room on 1/F overlooking the ocean is perfect for a cheap meal and a beer, for lunch or dinner.



Kalutara

Popular Spots

Meeting Places

    • Ayurmassagelanka
        71-604-9029, email. Gay-friendly. body-to-body massage, kerala type body massage and music therapy.



Negombo / Migamuwa

General Information

    Population is about 130,000 (that's over 5,000 Utopians).


Accommodations

    Click here for Negombo hotels and accommodations.


Bars and Clubs

    • Sherry Land Bar
        Ettukala. Famous outdoor bar and the best gay-friendly meeting place in Negombo. There is always someone nice who will want to know where you from and if are you married. ;-)
    • The Windmill Hotel
        Plastic chairs on the terrace, but agood atmosphere and drinks are a good value for the money. Popular (even if you are the only guest, wait a bit and the guys of Negombo will find you).

      Comments from Utopians:

      "There is not fully gay life in Negombo. But there are several bars that have a lot of gay patrons namely Sherry Land Bar and Rodeo Bar. Both are just minutes walk. Meeting guys in Negombo is very easy - just stand in one spot for a few minutes and they will find you." -- jamesto, Dec 11, 2008


Meeting Places

    • Negombo Bus Terminal, after 7:30pm until late.
    • Sunday in front of the 5-star "Beach Hotel." Walk down to Negombo Beach Park. Crowded with sweet, friendly people. Morning until noon and after 4pm. Don't go after 7pm.

    Comments from Utopians:

      "After dark, the lane way across Poruthota Rd from the Reef Hotel. Look for the statue of the Virgin Mary at the entrance of the lane. Walk down the lane a bit and you will see a lot of men just standing around on the sides of way waiting for you." -- jamescanada, Dec 29, 2008


Restaurants and Cafes

    • Bijou (Swiss cuisine)

        Comments from Utopians:

        "Bijou restaurant is very good." -- ChrisUKEssex, Jul 24, 2008

        "Bijou is excellent - great food and service, very friendly owner and good prices." -- chompi27, Apr 30, 2008

    • Dolce Vita (Italian Coffee shop)
        Portuhota Rd, Ettukala. Enter through the Sea-Sands Guesthouse. Gay-friendly. Good tiramusu. Terrace with a fantastic view right beside the beach.
    • King Coconut
        Ettukala, on the Beach.
    • Lords (western and Sri Lankan)
        Portuhota Rd, Ettukala. Gay-owned.

        Comments from Utopians:

        "Lords is a great place. It is expensive by Sri Lankan standards, but the food and service are worth it. The owner and staff are great." -- jamesto, Dec 11, 2008

        "I ate at Lords a few times on my last visit and found the food more than acceptable and certainly up to the standard of high class European establishments. Needless to say, I'll be returning here during my next sojourn." -- ChrisUKEssex, Jul 24, 2008

        "Went to Lords Restaurant with some friends and was extremely disappointed. Expensive. Ordered chicken Kiev, received an undefined mixture of burnt chicken with awful sauce. Despite the fact that the restaurant was almost empty, the service was very slow." -- chompi27, Apr 30, 2008

      Comments from Utopians:

      "For dinner we went to the Swiss restaurant Bijou and to Lords. Both places are highly recommended!" -- Kurt, Mar 25, 2009

      "Bijou is the place in Negombo for Europeans. King Coconut is also great - right at the beach with lots of locals and local food. La Dolce Vita is great for ice cream and coffee. Also right at the beach and a perfect place to watch the sunset." -- kvw, Jan 17, 2009

      "The best restaurants are the Bijou and Dolce Vitae (pastries, ice cream, crepes)." -- lovetotravel, Sep 23, 2008



Patuwatha - Dodanduwa

Popular Spots

Accommodations

    Click here for Patuwatha - Dodanduwa hotels and accommodations.



Tangalle

Popular Spots

Accommodations

    Click here for Tangalle hotels and accommodations.



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