Bhoomi Harendran
Bhoomi Harendran | |
|---|---|
| භූමි හරේන්ද්රන් | |
| Born | Borella, Sri Lanka |
| Occupations | Transgender activist, Actress |
| Organization | National Transgender Network |
| Title | Executive Director at the National Transgender Network |
| Awards | APCOM Hero Award (2021)
SAARC Award for Best Actor (2017) 'Kusalatha Sammanaya' (Merit Award) (2018) at the Sarasavi Film Awards for Frangipani |
Bhoomi Harendran is a Sri Lankan human rights activist, media personality, and advocate for the rights and equality of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) community in Sri Lanka.[1] She is the Executive Director of the National Transgender Network of Sri Lanka and was instrumental in the establishment of the legal process for transgender people to change their gender on official documentation.[2]
Career
Harendran is considered one of Sri Lanka's foremost human rights defenders for the LGBTIQ+ community. She is the Executive Director of the National Transgender Network of Sri Lanka, a non-governmental organization dedicated to safeguarding human rights, health, and empowerment for transgender people across the island.[2][3][4][5][6]
One of her most significant contributions is her active advocacy for the Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). This work led the Ministry of Health and the Registrar General's Department to issue circulars in 2016, which established a legal and administrative process for transgender individuals to officially change their gender and name on official documents, which was a landmark achievement. For over a decade, she has worked as an HIV activist, focusing on prevention, sexual health, and rights within key marginalized populations.[2][7][8] Harendran received the 2021 Transgender Hero Award from the APCOM Heroes Awards for her advocacy work.[9]
She has served as a subcommittee member of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and has advocated for police reform, including the issuance of a 2022 Police Department circular providing guidelines on the appropriate treatment, searching, and detention of transgender individuals.[10] She also serves as a Brand Ambassador for Emerge Lanka, an organization dedicated to empowering survivors of abuse.[11][12]
In film and television
Harendran is known for her role in the film Frangipani (Sayapethi Kusuma).[2][13] Harendran was the first trans person to win the SAARC Award for Best Actor (2017),[4] and won the Kusalatha Sammanaya (Merit Award) (2018) at the Sarasavi Film Awards,[4] both for her role in Frangipani.
Harendran was featured in the "Being Human" documentary series launched by Daily Mirror, in partnership with the legal pro-bono organization iProbono.[14]
See also
References
- ^ Joshi, Yuvraj (2016-08-15). ""All Five Fingers Are Not the Same"". Human Rights Watch.
- ^ a b c d MIAP (2020-07-18). "Bhoomi becomes first Transgender woman in Sri Lanka to host a political talkshow". LNW Lanka News Web. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ bridgeadmin (2023-03-26). "National Transgender Network Sri Lanka (NTNSL)". Bridge to Equality. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ a b c "Sympathy is not what we want: Bhoomi Harendran". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2018-10-14. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ "A safe space for the Trans and Queer worker community - IFWEA". 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ "Destigmatising LGBTQIA+ Healthcare". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ "For 'Mind and Soul': Sri Lanka Eases Way To Legal Recognition of Transgender People". Global Press Journal. 2016-12-18. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). www.health.gov.lk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ Editor 7 (2021-12-02). "ආසියානු පැසිෆික් TRANSGENDER HERO සම්මානය ශ්රී ලංකාවේ භූමි හරේන්ද්රන්ට - srihanda.lk | Sri Handa News Official Web Site|Sri Lanka News|News Sri Lanka|Online Sinhala News". Retrieved 2025-12-12.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "EQUAL GROUND on the amended Police circular". Latest in the News Sphere | The Morning. 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ "Emerge — Bhoomi Harendran". Emerge. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ Perera, Avindi (4 May 2023). "In the words of Bhoomi Harendran: "We need to transform digital spaces, including laws on online violence"". UN Women. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "IPPF Youth Champion stars in movie | The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka". www.fpasrilanka.org. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ "Beauty and complexity of Being Human". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2025-12-12.