Colombo, April 2025 – A new gender category added to Sri Lanka’s official asset declaration forms has ignited heated public and legal debate. The updated form now includes a third option, labeled “Other,” alongside the traditional male and female categories, a move that critics argue clashes with constitutional precedent.
The change, introduced under the newly enacted Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, was meant to modernize state documentation and broaden inclusivity. However, the Supreme Court’s prior ruling on the Equality Act reaffirmed that only male and female genders are constitutionally recognized under Sri Lanka’s 12th Amendment, sparking immediate backlash against the inclusion.
“This may seem like a small checkbox, but it opens a much larger legal and ideological conversation,” said one constitutional expert, noting that the Supreme Court had previously dismissed the recognition of non-binary or third-gender identities in official state matters.
The public reaction has ranged from praise for progressive visibility to criticism over what some deem a politically confusing gesture that lacks legal standing. With the courts already having ruled against gender inclusivity in legislative matters, the introduction of this new category could prompt a constitutional review or possibly trigger its quiet removal.
As government officials remain tight-lipped on whether this was a clerical oversight or intentional reform, one thing is clear: in a country navigating both tradition and transformation, even a single checkbox can tip the scale of national discourse.
