The European Union Delegation asks the government in a press release to repeal sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code.

The release says,

The last 16 months have seen a number of important and significant advances in human rights and the respect for fundamental freedoms in Sri Lanka. We welcome these developments.

But there is one section of the population who continues to report surveillance and harassment; a section of the population whose rights are not respected; a section of the population that is criminalised for relationships we think normal and commonplace: - The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community.

This sort of discrimination has no place in twenty-first century Sri Lanka. Human rights are universal, and apply to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, we, the undersigned members of the international community, call on Sri Lanka to use the historic opportunity of the new constitution to end discrimination in law against LGBTI people and repeal sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code.

The press release has been signed by David Daly, Head of Delegation, European Union Jean-Marin Schuh, Ambassador, Republic of France Juergen Morhard, Ambassador, Federal Republic of Germany 1 of 2 Paolo Andrea Bartorelli, Ambassador, Italy Joanne Doornewaard, Ambassador, Kingdom of the Netherlands Victor Chiudjea. Ambassador, Romania James Dauris, High Commissioner, United Kingdom Thorbjorn Gaustadsæther, Ambassador, Kingdom of Norway Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, Ambassador, Switzerland Bryce Hutchesson, High Commissioner, Australia Shelley Whiting, High Commissioner, Canada