Is Colombo LGBTQ+ friendly?

As the commercial capital, Colombo is the most progressive and LGBTQ+ friendly city in Sri Lanka. It holds a small but vibrant underground queer community, and it has many cosmopolitan venues that welcome a mixed crowd.

You won’t see openly advertised “gay bars” with rainbow signs flashing everywhere, though there are plenty of inclusive cafés, more upscale restaurants and boutique hotels where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel completely comfortable. The city also organises private queer-friendly gatherings, plus arts festivals often enough, making it the cultural centre for LGBTQ+ residents of the island, as well as open-minded expats.