Located just off the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is an island nation of about two million people covering approximately 25,000 square miles. A country influenced by its British, Dutch, and Portuguese colonial history, Sri Lanka still maintains a deeply conservative lifestyle. But recent Western influences in the form of news media, the Internet, and entertainment have left many teens caught in the middle of a changing culture.
This tension is particularly visible when it comes to matters of sex and relationships. Pre-arranged marriages are not unusual, and three generations often live under the same roof. Sex is still considered a very controversial topic. As a result, discussions of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections often get swept under the rug. “Forget AIDS — a discussion of sex itself is taboo, even during bio[logy] class,” said Dedunika Kumari, a student living in Colombo. “Our teachers are embarrassed to talk about it.”
The taboo on talking about sex leaves room for a lot of misinformation. In fact, results from a United Nations Development Programme survey showed that a number of Sri Lankan teens believe HIV — the virus that causes AIDS — can be contracted from hugging, swimming, or even handling money. Totally false! Sexual activity among teens here is on the rise, particularly in urban areas. Although the number of reported AIDS cases is small, the need for accurate information is quite apparent.
Sri Lanka’s laws are often controversial. Drug trafficking, for instance, is met with an automatic death sentence. Homosexuality between men is still illegal and is punishable with a prison sentence of 15 years — a law that makes it even more difficult for gay teens to become comfortable with their sexuality. However, the increasingly widespread use of the Internet has enabled teens in different cities to get together and form online support groups to address their feelings and struggles.
Western influence has also made its way to Sri Lanka in less controversial areas. Rice and curry are staples of the Sri Lankan diet; favorite dishes include “mallung,” consisting of coconut, red onions, and lime, as well as “sambols,” made of ground coconut or onion mixed with red chilies. But Western “nutrition” has also made its way to Sri Lanka, with fast-food chains like McDonald’s ® and KFC® nestled alongside local franchises such as Itza Pizza. Traditional market areas are still very visible, but they are joined by some larger Westernized shopping malls like Liberty Plaza and Crescat.
For fun, many Sri Lankan teens like sports. Due to the rather warm climate year-round, summer and aquatic sports are most popular. Cricket is the trademark spectator sport, with football (soccer) coming in a close second.
Western entertainment is also popular. American and British sitcoms, as well as soap operas and films, compose the majority of programming on the state-run and independent TV channels in Sri Lanka, ranging from BBC to ITN to MTV. Movie theaters sometimes feature first-run films like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, but teens lean toward Sri Lankan and Indian comedies and action movies at Colombo’s multiplex, the Liberty Cinema. American pop stars like Britney Spears and The Backstreet Boys are hugely popular in Sri Lanka — especially among teenage girls! It’s easy to see how Western pop culture and local ultraconservative laws and traditions might make Sri Lankan teens feel caught between the past and the present.
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