Sri Lanka is a classic paradise island, with palm-lined beaches, national parks packed with rare animals, and rolling green hills. It’s the ideal place to relax and soak up the sun and the exotic atmosphere, but the attitudes towards gays and lesbians lag behind other parts of the world.

In terms of gay culture, Sri Lanka still has progress to make. Homosexuality is against the law for both men and women, and openly prosecuted if discovered. For this reason, it is very difficult for gays and lesbians to meet, and many people either live double lives, marrying and having children whilst having occasional gay encounters in secret, or leave the country for more liberal places. There are no gay bars, clubs or saunas. Colombo, the capital, is a little more liberal, with gay rights organisations beginning to make themselves known, but it is still not a safe place to be openly or even discretely gay. Men occasionally cruise on the Wellwatta beach in Columbo, but this is extremely dangerous, both in terms of unsafe sex, and being caught by the police. Sri Lankan gays and lesbians, if they communicate at all, tend to do so online and meet in secret. Gay and lesbian tourists are tolerated due to their wealth and privilege, but severe caution is advised.

Homosexuality is against the law for men and women, and police patrol any know cruising grounds or meeting places.

Sri Lanka’s only airport, Bandaranaike International, is not particularly well-served by the major European airlines, although there are frequent flights from Asian destinations. Lower-cost and smaller European airlines do run flights there, but it is advisable to reconfirm your flight a few days in advance because last-minute changes to flights often arise there.