to pick and choose out Boyes, that are comely and of good Descent, and send them to the Court. These boyes go bare-headed with long hair hanging down their backs." Article 365 Article 365 of the Penal Code criminalised homosexual sex between two men. Despite the criminalisation of homosexual sex, the island remained largely free of witch-hunts or programs against LGBT, and was often considered to be a safe haven for Europeans fleeing homophobia back home; it is thought that the natives' views of homosexuality from Hinduism/Buddhism initially helped restrain homophobia to lower levels. Sri Lanka (Post-Colonialism) Regardless of their sexuality, the men are expected to marry women in adulthood. Lesbian Sex Criminalized Same-sex relations between two women were outlawed in 1995. Constitutional Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris at the time was trying to decriminalise homosexual relations between two men, but members of the parliament revolted against the proposal and, after realising that lesbians were not covered under the existing law, voted to expand the law to cover women as well. The law states that lesbian sex is punishable by up to twelve years in prison. The media at the time was mostly supportive of motions to support the lesbian community on the island according to Chinese news outlet, South China Morning Post. This is however conflicted by a news report from the UK's BBC which stated that the Sri Lanka Press Council set aside a complaint against a homophobic letter published in a leading newspaper, stating that lesbianism was an "act of sadism". The island's LGBT community would meet up annually at a resort to celebrate homosexuality. The rampant problem of child sex abuse in the Sangha is widely known, but many observers do not find evidence for it. The Middle Path The ethnic conflict on the island is often cited as a major reason why legal rights for sexual minorities did not progress with the same speed as other countries. Often, political parties that focused on moderation and the "middle path", emphasising the needs for human rights, would be sidelined in favour of political parties that supported extremist and nationalist politics. The European Union has recently proposed to use its elevated trade deal negotiations to ensure that human rights on the island would be protected. In November 2016, Sri Lanka voted against a plan to get rid of the UN Independent Expert on violence and discrimination based on