It's been the subject of much controversy since the olden days. It has been associated with everything from undying romance to utter moral breakdown: pre-marital sex. We spoke to a couple of young people from various backgrounds and of varying ages, and asked them for their opinions on the matter. The responses, to say the least, were quite interesting.
Jaliya (19) said "Both personally and from a parent's perspective I don't think it's a good idea" further he added "I do not object to the "two consenting adults" line of thinking - provided they're responsible for their actions. For example, If you look at the teen angle - an average teen probably won't be aware of the risks involved, especially given our "brilliant" sex-ed strategy."
Sri Lanka incorporates what is referred to as an "Abstinance-only" sex ed strategy, where the curriculum assumes and promotes abstinence. This kind of strategy carries the risk of young people not knowing about contraception, pregnancy and diseases. Our current school-taught curriculum only covers the basics in reproduction, and does not talk about the social aspects, including the responsibilities of a person.
"For me, as long as they're both aware of what they're getting into and willing to face the consequences, be it good or bad, I see no problems" says Dilina (23) on the subject. "It's exercising ones freedom as an individual to engage in premarital sexual relations."
Sri Lankan law states that the age of consent for a person is 16. This means that a person over the age of 16 can consent to having sex with another person over the age of 16. This age is based on the assumption that at 16, one is able to understand "what he or she is getting into." When looking at the other related laws however, one can notice a significant clash of ideas, as the legal age for marriage in Sri Lanka is 18 for boys, and 16 for girls.
"Sex before marriage is probably not a good thing when you're a teenager, because you should be physically and mentally ready for it. I think sex is something that should be reserved until after you get married." Kavindi (16).
In countries where there is a comprehensive sex-ed framework that includes the social and psychological aspects of sex, as opposed to having just the biological fact, research has shown a sharp increase in the age of first time sexual experiences. In Sri Lanka, however, according to a survey done in 2004, the age of debut was 15.3 for males and 14.4 for females. 42.5% of such debuts were with their girl/boyfriend at the time, and a surprising 38.2% was with a friend.
But, some opinions differ. As Irasha (16) expressed, "It might be a good thing. Imagine an arranged marriage, where you're supposed to be with a total stranger out of the blue. It's better to get to know a person well before you get married. But still, sex should be with someone whom you know, and trust. Not with any random person."
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