How My Home Became The Queer Temple

LindaLanga (ළිඳ ළඟ), Supun, and the beautiful work of remembering Sri Lanka's queer stories

Sri Lanka is an utterly queer island. And I believe we are finding our way back to our roots.

I recently had the honour of sitting down with Supun for Episode 45 of LindaLanga (ළිඳ ළඟ), a very special podcast documenting the lives, identities, experiences and stories of queer people in Sri Lanka.

Our conversation, He Called His House "The Queer Temple", Here's Why, is about my journey as a queer Sri Lankan man, father, yogi and artist. We explore how my home on the southern coast became Salasbananas Yoga & Art Shala, affectionately known as The Queer Temple, and how the practice of yoga, art and community continues to teach me what it means to live freely and authentically.

But before I share more about our conversation, I want to celebrate the person creating the space for these stories to be told.

LindaLanga: Our Stories, Our History, Our Island

There is something beautiful about the name LindaLanga (ළිඳ ළඟ), meaning "by the well."

It brings to mind the places where communities have always gathered. Where conversations unfold, stories are shared, relationships are nurtured, and the everyday experiences of being human become part of our collective memory.

Through LindaLanga, Supun is creating a space for exactly this.