• Sri Lanka Gay & Lesbian News Archive

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

• 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.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• EQUAL GROUND UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  Colombo
  +94 11-280-6184, +94 11-207-5121, 11-433-4279, email

  Focusing on the human rights of Sri Lanka's LGBTIQ communities. They fight for the equitable status of all sexual orientations and gender identities and to eliminate the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological abuse stemming from strict interpretations of gender and sexuality. They also offer a phone counseling service as well, on either phone line, and regularly hold activities for LB women and travelers are welcome to call about activities for the LGBTIQ community and LB women. They host an annual event called Women On Top to celebrate International Women's Day. They hosted and facilitated the first South Asian LB women's Conference in Sri Lanka. They also have women-only extracurricular activities such as open house, dancing, etc. EQUAL GROUND is the convening organisation PRIDE in Sri Lanka and is generally in June each year with dates posted on their website a few months in advance.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Women's Support Group
  +94-11-505-6122, email

  The Women's Support Group has worked since 1999 for the rights of lesbians, bisexual women and transgendered persons. WSG also organizes workshops on gender and sexuality, film shows for WSG members, and counselling help for LBT women in distress. They recently produced their first stage play titled Sathya: Shades of Grey. Lesbians traveling to Colombo should contact WSG as they may know of activities planned for women.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Kulansa UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  +94-7-1869-7942, WhatsApp 94718697942, email

  Trusted, personalized service for first time or repeat visitors. Countrywide tour and travel arrangements from understanding and capable staff. Gay-friendly.
  Utopia Member Benefit: 10% DISCOUNT.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

  Comments from Utopians:

  "We just got back from 2 unforgettable weeks in Sri Lanka. Steven was an exceptional tour guide and driver and I would highly recommend booking with Kulansa! From our initial contact, he was professional and fun with a great sense of humour, which is what you want when you're spending so much time together! We had already knew our route and Steven quickly turned it into an amazing itinerary with lots of ideas for places to stop along the way to really get the best out of the holiday (at no additional cost). Steven's car was great, his driving was safe, and he was so knowledgeable about every place we visited. We got to experience local parts of Sri Lanka that wouldn't have been possible any other way. As an LGBT couple it was important we selected a service that was accepting of that and Steven definitely made us feel comfortable. Picking Kulansa made our trip the holiday of a lifetime!" -- Zak D, Jul 15, 2024

• Mai Globe Travels UTOPIA VERIFIED JUL 2024
  65 International Buddhist Center Rd
  +94 77-254-5623, email

  Gay and lesbian-friendly travel services with international staff. They offer customized tours from adventure to culture, with extensive knowledge of the country. They are passionate about trekking, horse riding, and love to find new places to introduce. Large list of boutique hotels to offer and we plenty of activities to provide the best experience of Sri Lanka. They can speak English, French, German, and Japanese.
  Utopia Member Benefit: FREE DINNER on the beach for Utopia Members who book their services and show their member card on arrival.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• The Ocean Pearl UTOPIA VERIFIED JUL 2020
  North Pallansena
  +94 77-338-3141, email.

  Private transportation with a comfortable and spacious aircon car. Your safety and comfort is important to their driver. He will show you Sri Lanka through the eyes of the locals. He is fluent in english. Like most Sri Lankan people, his extroverted and caring personality will make you feel like you are hanging out with a friend. Bidget prices on tours and one day excursions, and airport transfers. Private car by day or hour.
  Utopia Member Benefit: 10% DISCOUNT.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Sanjeewa Lanka Travels UTOPIA VERIFIED MAR 2023
  +94 77-542-4313, WhatsApp: +94775424313, email

  Gay-friendly tours to beautiful Sri Lanka with your safety and comfort in mind. Private tours with driver to some of the islands most beautiful natural settings, spectacular world heritage sites, and sacred spaces. Smoothly management of itineraries, benefitting from local knowledge and experience.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Satchit Voyage Tours UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  Matale, +94 77-049-9533, email.

  Gay and lesbian-friendly tour guide.
  Utopia Member Benefit: 10% DISCOUNT.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I am gay solo traveler and client of Mr Manazir. His company has changed its name to Satchit Voyage Tours." -- Gerard, Jan 22, 2024

• Spectrum.Vacations UTOPIA VERIFIED JUL 2023
  +94 7-6044-5030, email

  Often referred to as the 'Paradise Island,' Sri Lanka offers stunning diversity, gorgeous beaches, breathtaking scenery, vivid wildlife, inspiring architecture, tantalising cuisine, and a melting pot of cultures in a recorded history exceeding 2500 years. There's something for everyone. Adventurers may enjoy kite surfing, white water rafting, extreme hikes or wreck diving. Seasoned travelers could take a train through scenic mountain landscapes, go on a wildlife safari to see elephants, leopards, and whales, or visit ancient city ruins from the dawn of culture. Run by a professional team of LGBT locals who will help you make sense of it all and craft a personalised and thoughtful holiday to fit your interests, pace, and budget. Their local insights will guide you to authentic experiences and keep you clear of tourist traps. All tours are mindful of the need for sustainability and the need to fund local LGBT projects and communities.
  Utopia Member Benefit: 5% DISCOUNT on solo and couple tours and 10% DISCOUNT on tours for 4 or more people when member card is presented following booking.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Sri Lanka Trekking Nature Holidays UTOPIA VERIFIED JAN 2022
  Email

  A small, gay and lesbian-friendly, family-managed tour organization run by an experienced trekking guide and holiday organizer. See real Sri Lanka. Experience panoramic mountain views, natural rain forests, grasslands, tea plantations, paddy fields, scrub jungles, village life, flora and fauna - all in a one day walk. Get to know locals and to take in all that Mother Nature has to offer. The trekking grade is gentle/moderate. They organize the ground arrangements. They try to steer away from the places visited by everyday tourists.
  Utopia Member Benefit: 10% DISCOUNT.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Vacation Srilanka UTOPIA VERIFIED JAN 2024
  36 Pavillion Bld
  +94 72-241-9520, email. Gay and lesbian-friendly quality tours at reasonable prices. The company is managed by three gay friends. They make every effort to see that you are comfortable, relaxed and at home in their beautiful country. Experience their warm and friendly service for an unforgettable holiday.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

Ahungalla

Click here for Ahungalla hotels and accommodations.

Alankuda

Click here for Alankuda hotels and accommodations.

BENTOTA

Located on the coast, about halfway between Colombo and the spectacular heritage city of Galle, are two of the island's do-not-miss wonders: the garden estates of two of Sri Lanka's most famous gay luminaries, the Bawa brothers. Geoffrey Bawa is perhaps the nation's most famous modern architect, whose many projects combine both Ceylonese and colonial traditions with an environment-sensitive modernist flare (his former Colombo offices are open to the public in their current incarnation as The Gallery Café, see under Shops in Colombo).

Brief UTOPIA VERIFIED JUL 2020 +94 77-406-0363, +94 34-428-7056 While overshadowed by his brother Geoffrey's grand estate, Lunuganga, Bevis Bawa's private pleasure gardens, dubbed Brief, are less sterile, more sensual, and filled with wonder and gay in-jokes at nearly every turn. These gardens are the inspiration and model for the tropical landscaping craze visible everywhere now around Southeast Asia. Assisted by his live-in guest, gay Australian artist Donald Friend, Bevis filled his Eden with naughty and provocative sculptures and a huge collection of drawing, painting, sculpture and photography, including many male nudes, still on display (though sadly decaying), by some of Asia's most renowned artists. Enter through gates whose priapic bulges are, simultaneously, the noses of bearded masks (see drawing below). Turn a corner on your garden walk and a leering goat wearing a tri-cornered hat emerges from the flowering foliage. Through the moon gate is a plunge pool being filled in an endless arc from the healthy spout of an athletic youth. Well-placed moss cleverly mimics pubic hair on other well-hung torsos. An ornate full-length mirror is perfectly positioned to reflect the more intimate landscape of the open air showers. Sit on the lap of a sleeping, naked young man etched into a concrete bench by Friend. Fertile imagination is at play everywhere: from walls of translucent glass bottles, monstera leaves pressed into ceiling plaster, handmade tiles, furniture, fabrics, glorious murals, life-size nude male lamps, on and on. Before Friend left for fame in Bali in the late 60s, the modern Asian house and garden had been invented here. "The many sight-seeing heads who examined his floral beds tried to peek in his bedrooms too for more singular sights to view. One lady was heard to remark: ‘With such a luxuriant park you’d think he'd turn a new leaf, this unnatural Bawa of Brief!’ -- from The Bawa of Brief by James Broughton Add your review, comment, or correction


• Lunuganga UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  +94 34-428-7056

  Geoffrey Bawa's vast estate, gardens and lagoon are open for lunch (Sri Lankan cuisine), tea and guided tours by appointment.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

  

COLOMBO / KOLAMBA -- area code +94-1

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

• Lush

  Gays frequent this happening night spot.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Sports Massage Colombo Sri Lanka UTOPIA VERIFIED MAR 2021
  +94 77-159-5527, 77-869-9413, WhatsApp: +94771595527email

  Experienced, professional and qualified sports massage therapist offering treatment for clients at their own home or hotel. Or, you may also visit their place for a massage (details uwhen you book).
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Middle class, educated gays meet online, especially on GayRomeo, LankaLove, and Grindr.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Colombo Fort

  Facilities in the CTB government bus stand and underground. Underground facilities in the Fort area on York St. If you are coming up York St from the Hilton it is across from the first corner of the Cargill's building (the old red brick building). Look for a stairway going down from the side walk with men's symbol. Plenty of guys just standing around looking for fun.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Colombo Municipal Council Public Library

  Both facilities. Wait for an invitation. Best times: 9:30-10:30am, 1:30-3pm and 5-6:30pm.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Hanging around outside the British Council where young Sri Lankan gays go to study English.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Havelock Town
  Foot path next to the Isipatana grounds.

  You may need a friend to show you this location. After 6:30pm. This is a narrow path leading from one road to another but hardly used at that time because it's dark. You can see people walking and most of them are gay fun seekers.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Majestic City Shopping Mall
  Galle Rd.

  Main lounge and facilities. Majestic City super market lobby area, 2/F and 3/F. Wait for an invitation. 10:30-11:30am, 2:30-3:30pm, and 6-7:15pm are busiest.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Mount Lavinia Beach

  Very good location with several hot spots. Gays will signal. Best times are 6:30-9:30pm.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Barefoot Cafe (contemporary international) UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024

  See listing under Shops. Excellent food and service in a beautiful oasis.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• The Gallery Café (contemporary international) UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  2 Alfred House Rd
  011-258-2162

  Housed in the former offices of famous gay Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, this popular venue is a must-see, both for the tropical modern architecture and the for the rare chance to see a nude male photo by another famous gay Sri Lankan, Lionel Wendt, on display (sadly enough) in the men's room. Wendt, who died in 1944, was (among his many talents and interests) a pioneer of the modern male nude, celebrating his Sri Lankan subjects rather than focusing on western ideals of masculine beauty. Good food, though expensive by Sri Lankan standards. Excellent service.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Barefoot UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  706 Galle Rd, Colombo 3
  011-258-9305

  All the best local arts, crafts, books, and colorful hand woven fabrics and fashions collected together in a charming heritage setting, in a compound including gallery and excellent restaurant.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

Galle

Galle (pronounced "Gaul"), in the southern part of the island, is one of Asia's fantastic heritage destinations, yet is largely off the tourist path so you can still feel like you've made the discovery on your own.

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 -- filled with heritage colonial buildings and incredible art deco villas.

The atmosphere is very relaxed and the people are friendly. There are plenty of shops and cafés in the Fort catering for a variety of tastes. Unsurprisingly, a number of longtime gay expats have chosen to retire in Galle. The beach of Unawatuna is also close by.

Click here for Galle hotels and accommodations.

• Take a stroll along the Fort wall at sunset to add to your collection of warm, tropical smiles.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Ramparts Hotel

  Dining room on 1/F overlooking the ocean is perfect for a cheap meal and a beer, for lunch or dinner.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Barefoot UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  41 Pedlar St
  +94 91-222-6299

  Sister branch of the fantastic Colombo shopper's paradise. Pick up a colorful sarong for your evening promenade along the fort walls.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

Kandy

Former royal city high in the verdant hills of central Sri Lanka.

The population of Kandy is over 100,000 (that's more than 4,000 Utopians).

• Kandy is a great place to see spectacularly attired male dancers and musicians performing a variety of Sri Lankan dance traditions.
  

• Temple of the Tooth

  Dress appropriately (long pants or skirts) for this sacred spot and UNESCO world heritage site, unless you want to rent an overpriced sarong.

  

• Around Kandy lake. Pass the boat house and walk towards Hotel Suisse. Gays hang out here and try to act discreetly.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Railway tracks close to the public bus stand. 6:45pm-9:30pm. Be careful.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

Matara

Click here for Matara hotels and accommodations.

Negombo / Migamuwa -- area code +94-31

Negombo, the only city in Sri Lanka with relaxed, everyday gay life, is a peaceful oceanside resort just 15 minutes drive north from Colombo's international airport. Budget airlines like Air Asia offer unbelievably low priced flights from hubs like Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, making this an easy-breezy beach get-away. With tropical island pace of life, seaside dining and bars, extraordinarily friendly locals and gay-only resorts, its become a favorite holiday destination for jet-setting regional gays looking for a weekend retreat or long-stay holiday.

The population of Negombo is about 130,000 (that's over 5,000 Utopians).

Click here for Negombo hotels and accommodations.

• Rodeo Bar (mixed)
  Some gay patrons.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Serendip
  Beach disco bar with a DJ on Fri and Sat nights is the current hot spot (2011).
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Along the main street between Lords and King Coconut at night.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• The beach from in front of La Dolce Vita up to the Jetwing hotels, especially Sunday afternoons and after dark.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Middle class, educated gays in Negombo meet online, especially on GayRomeo, LankaLove, and ManJam.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Negombo Bus Terminal, after 7:30pm until late.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Aria (international)
  St Lachlan Hotel, 25 St Anthony's Lane (in the alley leading to Gomez Place and Dickman Resort), 750-0770.

  The dining room at this tropical modern boutique hotel offers reasonably good dining in a relaxed, casual atmosphere (although the antlers are rather disconcerting and out of place with the rest of the breezy decor). Service works hard to meet your special requests. Prices are reasonable. Try the traditional watalappan, a nearly black pudding made from coconut cream, cardamom, and jaggery (palm sugar).
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Bijou (Swiss cuisine) UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2013
  Great food and service. Very friendly owner and good prices.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Dolce Vita (Italian Coffee shop) UTOPIA VERFIED OCT 2023
  32 Katuwapitiya Rd
  +94 31-222-2149

  Gay-friendly. Good tiramusu, baked goods and gelato. Breezy terrace with a fantastic view right beside the beach. A perfect place to watch the sunset. Their crispy pizza is good.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Jetwing Blue (Sri Lankan breakfast) UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  Ethukale, 227-9000.

  If you want to try a large selection of traditional Sri Lankan food, splurge on the breakfast buffet at this gorgeous, Asian modern 4-star boutique hotel. Sit at your table with an unspoiled view of the best stretch of beach in Negombo, watching the colorful sails of the catamarans as fishermen set sail for the morning catch. Try the bowl-shaped "hoppers," a crispy fried pancake made from rice flour, add an egg, shaved coconut, spicy chutney or fragrant sambal to taste. Noodle-shaped hoppers make perfect nests for a variety of curries, lentils or dahls. Fresh tropical fruit and vegetable juices are chilling on ice. Crusty breads, Wood Apple jam, buffalo curd with a drizzle of treacle, banana and butter cake all make a perfect compliment for strong Ceylon breakfast tea.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

• Lords (western and Sri Lankan) UTOPIA VERIFIED AUG 2024
  Portuhota Rd, Ettukala.

  Funky, arty open air restaurant with gallery. Western and Sri Lankan food served with popular Australian wines. Gay-owned.
  Add your review, comment, or correction

  
  

Sigiriya

Not to be missed wonder of the ancient world: Sigiriya, a 5th century palace set atop a fortress rock and surrounded by ancient rock and water gardens where the earliest Buddhists sought out natural "power spots" to do their meditation. Here were the Fountains of Paradise that Arthur C. Clarke wrote about in his novel of the same name.



One third up Sigiriya's rock face, in a natural rock overhang, are the remnants of a frescoed portrait gallery that once depicted hundreds of women of varying ethnicities and cultures in a sensual, delicate style unique to Sri Lanka.



Half way up you encounter giant stone paws, all that remains of a colossal lion gate that guarded the stairs up to the summit. At the stop, spectacular views of the jungle below from the foundations of the long vanished, near-mythical palace in the sky.

Comments from Utopians:



"As the sun set on this million dollar view straight out of Jurassic Park - my guide arranged a surprise after-dark jungle picnic with his local village friends. By the light of a few candles they served wild boar, buffalo curd, and arak (coconut liquor) mixed with Sprite. Above us the Milky Way was incandescent. They grabbed plastic dishes and silverware and, using them as instruments, began to sing Sinhalese folk songs. They told me that the local news reported that the world would end in 2012 and that America had dug a great tunnel to save itself. 'Yes,' I replied, 'every American has a tunnel.' Wide eyes, then laughter. As we watched satellites arc across the heavens, I reminded them that Sri Lanka's national hero, Arthur C. Clarke, had dreamed up geostationary satellites that made their GPS mobile phones possible. 'Mmmm, yes,' they agreed he was a great scientist. I told them he also predicted that Sri Lanka would be the site of an elevator that would take their children into space along a string made of diamond that WAS being developed in America. I watched as their minds exploded. Then the fireflies came out." -- John Goss, Sigiriya

Click here for Sigiriya area hotels and accommodations.

Tangalle

Click here for Tangalle hotels and accommodations.

Wadduwa

Click here for Wadduwa hotels and accommodations.