In light of the anti-gay laws of Sri Lanka, there is no official gay scene anywhere in the country. When we visited Colombo we found that the bars and restaurants linked to the large hotel chains were the most gay friendly, where we felt most comfortable with PDAs. Sri Lanka also has beaches, stunning landscapes for trekking and kind, warmhearted people who love welcoming foreigners, straight or gay. "Hope India will vote in favour of Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. Arrack is actually one of the oldest distilled spirits in the world, older even than Scottish whisky, and very nice as part of a cocktail or mixed with some ginger beer. The announcement also comes on the heels of Sri Lanka’s reopening for tourism, which occurred on January 21 after ten months of border closures. We've teamed up with the excellent gay travel company Pinky Swear to offer our readers an exclusive 5% discount off the total cost of any trip you book with them. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. MIAMI - History has shown that airline mergers, interline agreements and alliances have always adversely affected the employees; specifically, the pilots that fly for... LONDON – As we know, Flybe (BE) went into administration back in March this year, following a few years of financial downturns. Whether it's a cancelled flight, lost luggage or you fell down some stairs, you should never travel without travel insurance to protect cover unexpected costs. Then there's the trekking, safaris, surfing…. Nomadic Boys is our gay travel blog showcasing all our travel adventures as a gay couple. It will lead in nicely to the One-Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka which, obviously, forms part of the World Cup qualifiers for 2023,” Grave explained. Subscribe now to our gay travel newsletter, Home Destinations Asia South Asia Sri Lanka. Section 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code dating back to 1886 criminalises “carnal intercourse” with up to 10 years in prison and a fine. While it's kind of a rave for those who like psytrance/dark trance music, the organisation behind the festival also focuses on charity aid and eco-sustainable projects, so you can feel good about attending this inclusive dance event. Just fun and interesting blog posts delivered straight to your inbox. Due to the anti-gay laws, there is not much by way of exclusively gay events in Sri Lanka other than the annual Colombo Pride and the ABHIMANI Queer Film Festival, both in June. Book your flights from Sri Lanka on the official website and be in charge. There is even a growing number of hotels specifically targetting gay travellers. MIAMI – Jazeera Airways (J9) announced today that it will be launching direct flights between Kuwait City and Colombo, Sri Lanka, beginning on February 21.These flights will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A320neo. Find out more about Nomadic Boys. Residents of some countries do need to apply for a visa in person at a diplomatic mission, so make sure you allow plenty of time before your travels to check your personal visa requirements for Sri Lanka. You can read more about our favourite Sri Lankan dishes below, but even better, try to do a cooking class or ask your hostel / guesthouse host if you can cook with them. Earlier this month, Sri Lanka participated in Pakistan’s multi-nation naval exercise, Aman-21. The journey takes you through the lush green tea plantations then powers into the spectacular cloud forests. The festival presents a range of queer short and feature-length films from countries around the globe. After 24 hours it becomes a mildly alcoholic drink (known as a toddy) and is then put into timber vats or copper stills to age, often for years. However, the city has a large LGBTQ community living here. We'll be honest, we weren't blown away by it. Accommodation: When looking for places to stay in Sri Lanka we always use (and love) Booking.com. The route will be offered twice a week, although the airline believes service will progressively increase over the year. Generally, if you receive good service, you would tip 10% for a restaurant bill and tip hotel staff around 1000Rs per day (which is about $5 US). With the introduction of Customs Ordinance, it developed into a full-fledged State organization mainly responsible for the collection of revenue and the enforcement of Law. This new route will increase service for the circa 100,000 Sri Lankans who work and reside in Kuwait. Just fun and interesting blog posts delivered straight to your inbox. The other gay hotels of Negombo include the Dickman and Binnacle – both of which are “adult-only”. They have so many choices for fun things to do, all over the world, as well as an easy to use booking system and wonderful 24/7 online support. The two countries, which enjoy warm ties, aim to boost trade ties during Imran Khan’s maiden visit to the island nation. The main one is Gomez Place, which is men-only. Sightseeing and adventure: Our other favourite planning website, for finding the best activities and tours, is GetYourGuide. All meals were deliciously prepared by their Sri Lankan chefs and accompanied with some excellent wines. This will display the dropdown with suggested places in Sri Lanka; Select the desired City /Village /Town /Airport from both the dropdown lists. If you want reliable access to the internet, or know you will need to use a lot of bandwidth for work perhaps, you may like to hire a portable WiFi device during your trip. The most famous sight in Kandy is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is a Buddhist temple in the old city. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter . Book-lovers will not want to miss out on the Galle Literary Festival, as it's one of the most well-known and highly anticipated literature festivals taking place in south-east Asia. For an amazing adventure through Sri Lanka, join the HE Travel's gay cultural tour to see elephants, visit tea plantations and go shopping in world-famous bazaars. Foodies will LOVE Sri Lanka – we sure did! We loved spotting orcas in Argentina so we jumped at the chance to do it in Sri Lanka. If you'd prefer to explore Sri Lanka with the security of being in a group, there are a couple of excellent gay tours going there. As disdainful as the anti-gay laws of Sri Lanka are, we don't think this should stop you visiting. $1 US converts to about 181Rs, €1 is about 200Rs and £1 makes about 227Rs. Never. Like what you see online? Flexible penalties, free 24 hour cancellation as you fly from Sri Lanka. By joining a tour group you'll be able to relax and enjoy everything without worrying about logistics. You can also enter airport name or code from Sri Lanka in above fields. It is nicknamed “Little England” because the British Colonists established it in the 1840s as a base. Never. We have to expand the party in Sri Lanka, Nepal and win there to form a government," NDTV report said. His advice about LGBTQ travel has been featured in Gaycation Magazine, Gaycities, Gay Times, Pink News, and Attitude Magazine. So we understand. Flexible penalties, free 24 hour cancellation as you fly from Sri Lanka. Made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, they're cooked in a bowl to make a kind of pancake shape, then a fried egg is added in the middle. Also organised by The Equal Ground is Abhimani, the only LGBTQ film festival in Sri Lanka. Book & fly from Sri Lanka with Qatar Airways. Check the Abhimani Facebook page for more up-to-date information on the next festival. Hi both, Udawalawe is fantastic because with fewer visitors it means fewer jeeps blocking your way and therefore a more rewarding safari. They are offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount when you book your vacation with them. Our favourite is the less frequented Udawalawe National Park. Sri Lanka plans to set up an aircraft and maintenance and repair overhaul (MRO) unit, a transit hotel, expand duty free services at Mattala International Airport as it draws more traffic, an official said. Currency: The currency used in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan rupee. We discovered quite a vibrant underground scene in the main cities, particularly in the capital, Colombo, and the beach resort town of Negombo. The most impressive leg is from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and then the train ride to Ella. This is because the waters here are particularly rich in plankton, which almost guarantees sightings whenever sea conditions are good. Do you think that the aviation industry will recover by 2024? The views however from Ella Rock are something else! As gay travelers, safety is our #1 priority! However, this is not to say there is nothing for LGBTQ travellers here. There are also roadside stalls erected all over the country offering free food as a meritorious act. Not ever. One of the most beautiful Sri Lanka tourist places, this 19th century hill station Nuwara Eliya retains its colonial ambiance with its golf course, gentlemen’s clubs and mock-Tudor buildings.It is one of the most beautiful locations in Sri Lanka for a scenic rail ride. Locals usually celebrate the New Year for seven days, taking part in religious activities and serving traditional foods with family. If you read all the guidebooks and online accounts of Sri Lanka, they'll rave about Kandy. Online privacy: Following communal violence in Sri Lanka in 2018 and 2019, the government dramatically increased censorship online, including blocking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube. With so many different nationalities leaving their mark, the island offers up a variety of cuisines. We want to stay 4 weeks and do and see as much as we can. The festival includes art exhibitions, talks, history walks, workshops, cooking classes and more. It was amazing. Not ever. No spam. If you haven't had enough after riding on Sri Lanka's famous train and joining safaris in the jungle, you can also add on an extra trip to the Maldives as well! We've put together some handy hints and tips to help you plan your own trip to Sri Lanka. The main international airport is Bandaranaike, located north of the capital Colombo. Don't miss our latest posts. For the best experience, visit the west/south coasts and hill country between December – March, and/or the east coast between April – September. In 2019, India and Sri Lanka signed a memorandum of understanding for “co-operation on economic projects”. Sri Lankan curries are usually thinner and more heavily spiced, partly due to the wide variety of international ingredients brought in by trade. Featured image: Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. AirwaysNews High Flyer Interview: Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza – Part 2. You can trek to Ella Rock yourself and it only takes around 4 hours from start to finish, so can be done at any time of the day you fancy. We loved trying different curries during our time in Sri Lanka, some with seafood like fish, prawns or crab and others with pork, lamb, beef, chicken or even goat. The capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, has been hosting gay pride events for 15 years. Together, we have been travelling the world for over 10 years. However, we instead recommend basing yourself in the pretty small town of Ella, which is surrounded by beautiful mountains and hills. Just be wary of the hangover if you drink too much as it's very strong! The route will be offered twice a week, although the airline believes service will progressively increase over the year. Vaccinations: Travellers to Sri Lanka should be up to date with all routine vaccinations (such as measles, mumps, rubella), while the CDC also recommends getting vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Typhoid. We are Stefan and Sebastien a French/Greek gay couple from London. Here is a summary of some of the best foods/drinks you need to try in Sri Lanka, but for a more in-depth guide, be sure to read our article about Sri Lankan food. There are many famous treks in Sri Lanka, the most talked about being Adam's Peak, which is more a hardcore pilgrimage trek for Buddhists, involving a very early wake-up. Also known as ‘isso baduma', deviled prawns in Sri Lanka are usually served as an appetizer or with some pre-dinner drinkies. The contrasting sweet and sour notes create a burst of flavours on your tastebuds. Currency: The currency used in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan rupee. HeTravel is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount for this amazing tour in Sri Lanka. On the whole, yes. The National Parks of Sri Lanka offer some of the best safaris outside of East Africa. The two countries, which enjoy warm ties, aim to boost trade ties during Imran Khan’s maiden visit to the island nation. We've been using WorldNomads Travel Insurance for years and absolutely love them. You can use them to pick up the same sort of curries and other wet dishes that rice is often used for. They have even embellished the anti-gay laws. Sri Lankans are very welcoming people and super curious towards foreigners whether straight or gay. I've met a few really good friends there who helped me with my travel plans. Sign up to our newsletter and get free access to it. Negombo Beach is also a popular gay hangout spot during the day. As a travel nerd, he has explored more than 80 countries across 5 continents. The currency code is LKR and it's written as Rs. Sebastian's is also close to Sri Lanka's main airport, Bandaranaike International Airport, where security was heightened. The parliament met for the first time on 22 April 2010 and was dissolved on 26 June 2015. The highlights of our safari was the wildlife and thanks to our passionate guide, we managed to see leopards in the wild and lots of Asian elephants. We strongly believe that the more we (as LGBTQ travellers) visit places like Sri Lanka, the more visible we become, which can only serve to alter and change locals' attitudes towards us for the better. Thank you very much for your feedback. Not ever. Even though the courts have declared these laws to be unenforceable, the fact that the Sri Lankan government refuses to get rid of them is a sad sign that Sri Lanka is still very much a conservative society where you do need to tread cautiously as an LGBTQ traveller. It is instead kept in a golden casket shaped like a dagoba (stupa), which contains a series of six dagoba caskets of diminishing size. It's also very popular with young people as a snack on the way home after a night of partying in Colombo. They offer comprehensive cover and it's easy to make a claim online when needed. This paradise-like island has some of the most delicious food we've tried in Asia, the best safaris outside of East Africa and our favourite train journeys. Follow these safety tips to ensure you have a wonderful time in Sri Lanka. Mention us and they'll give you a discount :). One tip is to use gay dating apps to connect with locals. During the British occupation of Sri Lanka, a tea plant was smuggled into the country from China and soon tea plantations started popping up all over the place. If you're looking for a gay-friendly travel company to organise your whole trip to Sri Lanka, we've partnered with Pinky Swear, an excellent gay-owned travel agency, who offer tailored tours and itineraries for LGBTQ travellers. Make sure to subscribe to the print edition of Airways today for exclusive content including airport reviews, trip reports, interviews, and more. The mere existence of anti-gay laws (even if unenforced) simply validates violent crimes against the local LGTBQ community, particularly by policemen who use it as a way to get bribes. Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy a cuppa at some point during your time in Sri Lanka! Suffice to say, you won't get bored here. In terms of gay cruising in Colombo, local friends there told us the best spots (where both straight and gay men go) include: the bushes of the Wellawatte Railway Station, Bambalapitya beach, behind Majestic City and around the Colombo Fort area after sunset. Thank you! For example, the Lazaani Hotel often hosts gay parties and events – see video clip below. Hold dig opdateret. Receive exclusive air fares and travel the world with an award-winning airline. Then on the way back, we spotted many dolphins and even a pair of turtles mating! It operates flights to more than 30 destinations across the Middle East and Europe. Curry and rice are served at any time of the day in Sri Lanka, but egg hoppers are a bit of a breakfast staple that you'll find all over the country. As mentioned, the water itself is rough and therefore not great visibility, so don't come here expecting to snorkel. The other popular trek to do in Ella is the shorter and easier Little Adam's Peak. Here is a more detailed guide to transport within Sri Lanka. ... Sri Lanka has recorded over 300 deaths so far due to COVID-19. Fill out this form to get a personalized itinerary for your upcoming trip to Sri Lanka with Pinky Swear and get an exclusive 5% discount off the total cost. The 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka was a meeting of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, with the membership determined by the results of the 2010 parliamentary election held on 8 April and 20 April 2010.
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