For a region that prides itself on its diversity and as nation world renowned for its hospitality, Sri

Lanka seems to find it hard to deal with changing perspectives and popular culture within its own
people. Our culture has a certain mindset or a cookie-cutter mould that has worked fine for many
generations and many ignorant people – unfortunately, the majority – and they believe it is their
duty to make sure no one strays on that path using the excuse that it is required to preserve ones
culture and traditions, and so they decide to police its communities who go against their traditions
or archaic views of lifestyle or choice.

In the world we live in today, gender equality, individuality, sexuality, civil liberties and lifestyle are
some of the many choices the youth of today have to form their own opinion on, the media and the
internet inform them of a few popular (and sometimes misleading) views on all these things, but
when it comes down to it they still prefer to make their own choices and also to be open about
them. The result; some females choose roles and mannerisms that are usually done by males, some
men choose to skirt with the law and indulge in risqué behavior or some choose to live true to their
natural sexual urges. The options are endless, and we blindly believe that these things should be or
‘are’ without consequences but unfortunately many of these choices fall on the wayside as
sometimes they may lead you on the path to social stigmatizing, public ridicule, alienation from
friends and family; All because they cannot accept a changing social landscape.

The result of this militant view on change and individuality is not helping to protect the culture and
tradition that its trying to protect as it is slowly destroying its foundation, the individual itself.

only hurting Sri Lankan culture itself as many of the current generations choose to align themselves
either with another culture,