Article 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code

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Article 365 and Article 365A of the Sri Lankan Penal Code are old colonial laws that are still on the books but are not actively enforced today.

- Article 365: It criminalizes carnal intercourse against the order of nature. A person who does this with any man, woman, or animal can face up to 10 years in prison and a fine. If an adult (18+) has such intercourse with someone under 16, the punishment goes up to 20 years in prison, plus a fine and an order to pay compensation to the injured person.

- Article 365A: It covers acts of gross indecency. A person involved in such acts can be punished with up to 2 years in prison, a fine, or both. If the offender is 18+ and the victim is under 16, the penalty rises to 10–20 years in prison, with a fine and compensation.

History and status:
- The law began under British rule (original Penal Code enacted in the 1880s) and was later broadened in 1995 to include lesbian acts.
- Today, the law is widely described as decriminalized, dormant, or unenforceable. There have been complaints, but few or no convictions.
- The Sri Lankan Supreme Court can interpret laws but not repeal them. In 2017, it said it would be inappropriate to impose custodial sentences for consensual sex between adults, effectively making enforcement unlikely.
- Governments have stated that discrimination against LGBT people is unconstitutional and that applying these sections in a discriminatory way is unconstitutional, but the laws themselves have not been repealed. As a result, social stigma and fear of outing can still lead to harassment or abuse.