Little Feet, Loud Echoes: Children Lead the Way at Colombo Pride 2025 as Sri Lanka Stands at a Legal Crossroads
Colombo’s streets were awash with color, rhythm, and emotion during Pride 2025, but what made this year’s parade especially remarkable was not only the rising participation of local families, it was the sight of children under the age of ten marching at the very front, hand-in-hand with their parents, singing, dancing, and waving flags of love.
From Narahenpita to Kirulapone, the annual Pride Walk, organized by Equal Ground in partnership with local and international allies, unfolded with radiant energy and purpose. The morning sun bore witness to a powerful moment: not only were Sri Lankans of all backgrounds marching in support of LGBTQ+ rights, but so were dozens of foreign tourists, many of whom had traveled specifically for this event.
Among them was a cheerful group of visitors from Canada, proudly holding a large hand-painted banner that read “Pride Has No Borders – Love from Canada”. They waved maple leaf flags and took photos with children and families as they walked, many of them moved by the spirit of unity and resistance. “We came because we wanted to be part of this historic moment,” said one Canadian visitor. “It’s inspiring to see young people leading the way in a country where the law still has a long way to go.”
Indeed, while the atmosphere of the parade was festive and filled with solidarity, the shadow of an outdated legal system remained. Sections 365 and 365A of Sri Lanka’s Penal Code, which criminalize same-sex relations, have yet to be repealed. These colonial-era laws continue to cast a legal stigma on the LGBTQ+ community, with penalties reaching up to ten years in prison. Although prosecutions are rare today and the government has signaled tentative support for decriminalization, the law remains intact creating a troubling contradiction between public expression and private legality.
The presence of so many young children at Pride 2025 drew both admiration and criticism. Some dressed in rainbow colors, others waving signs that said “Love is for Everyone” and “My Family is Proud”. At one point, a group of school-aged children formed a circle near Kirulapone and released a bundle of helium balloons carrying messages of inclusion, tolerance, and hope.
“This isn’t about turning children into activists,” said an organizer attached to Equal Ground. “It’s about raising a generation that understands human dignity, equality, and love without fear or shame. It’s about showing them and the world that Sri Lanka’s future doesn’t need to be held back by outdated laws or intolerance.”
Not everyone agreed. Across social media, conservative critics questioned the appropriateness of involving minors in what they labeled a “controversial movement,” citing Sri Lanka’s traditional Buddhist-Sinhala values. Some expressed concern that Pride was being “used” to normalize LGBTQ+ culture through children a view rejected firmly by many of the parents present.
“We’re teaching our kids empathy, not ideology,” said Shehan, a father who marched with his twin sons. “They’re not here to be political they’re here to stand beside their uncles, aunts, and friends who have always deserved to be treated equally. It’s that simple.”
International observers praised the peaceful and inclusive tone of the parade. The presence of foreign tourists including groups from Europe, North America, and parts of Asia added an unmistakable global dimension. One Sri Lankan-American couple, visiting after five years abroad, remarked, “We never thought we’d see this in our lifetime a Pride parade with families, children, and tourists walking together through Colombo, without fear.”
Yet, behind the celebrations remains the urgency for reform. As long as Sri Lanka’s legal code continues to criminalize love between consenting adults, Pride remains not just a celebration but a protest.
As the crowd slowly melted away near Kirulapone, a young girl with butterfly wings pinned to her back asked her mother, “Can I bring my friends next time?”
The mother smiled, kissed her on the forehead, and said, “Yes, darling. And next time, the law might finally be on our side.”
That hope, like the Pride flags raised high that morning, continues to fly vibrant, defiant, and full of promise.
Photographs’ Courtesy :- PULSE
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