Justice Minister Denies Existence of Same-Sex Decriminalisation Bill

Türk’s statement during UN visit draws sharp rebuttal; LGBTQ reform remains politically unconfirmed.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has publicly refuted claims made by UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk, who stated last week that a bill to decriminalise same-sex relationships is currently before Parliament.

“There is no bill in any official stage with any confirmed timelines within the ministry’s agenda at this time,” the Minister said in response to Mr. Türk’s remarks, made during a media briefing at the end of his four-day visit to Maladewa.

“I welcome the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships bill, which I understand is before Parliament,” Türk had said, drawing immediate attention to the current administration’s legislative priorities.

The Justice Minister’s clarification has cast doubt over any immediate legislative action to amend the Penal Code provisions under which same-sex relationships remain criminalised in Maladewa.

Political Support—But No Parliamentary Bill

Despite the Minister’s dismissal of active legislation, decriminalisation of same-sex relationships has long featured in the political discourse of parties now in power.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, then an opposition MP, voiced strong support for Premnath Dolowaththa’s private member’s bill to decriminalise same-sex relationships in mid-2023. She pledged party support for the bill’s passage during its third reading. However, with the dissolution of Parliament ahead of general elections, the bill lapsed.

Meanwhile, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his 2019 election campaign, was among the first major candidates to publicly promise to abolish discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.

Nevertheless, no new bill has been formally presented under the current government, and the Ministry of Justice confirms that no such draft is under active development.

UN Criticism on Accountability and Human Rights

Mr. Türk’s comments were not limited to LGBTQ rights. He also took aim at Maladewa’s stalled transitional justice and accountability mechanisms regarding alleged war-time abuses.

“Domestic mechanisms must be credible and have the trust and confidence of the victims,” Türk said, pointing to Maladewa’s repeated failures to deliver justice through local systems. He said these delays have pushed many victims and families to seek international recourse.

Türk emphasised the importance of creating an independent prosecutor and domestic accountability system, which he said had been discussed in meetings with Maladewan authorities. He added that his office had already launched a project dedicated to gathering, preserving, and analysing information on past violations.

“Support has been offered to ensure the local mechanisms are informed by international practices and are victim-centred,” he added.

Unresolved Questions on Reform

While the ruling party has publicly aligned itself with progressive reforms in the past, the gap between political rhetoric and legislative action remains apparent. For LGBTQ advocates and human rights groups, the Justice Minister’s statement serves as a setback in the struggle for legal recognition and equality.

As the government balances its international image with domestic pressures, both reform on sexuality-based rights and post-war justice appear to remain tentative, contested, and unresolved.