“The initial checklist we have from polyandry one of many Sinhalese was perhaps the Magul Mahavihara inscription away from Vihara-maha-devi owned by about the 14th century where we discover the new queen contacting herself the principle consort of the two sis leaders entitled Perakumba (Perakumba de-be-raja-daruvan de-denata aga mehesun vu vihara-maha-devi). This new sibling leaders known regarding the epigraph is actually plainly two petty leaders just who wielded independent power throughout the Ruhuna nation in the committed. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Week-end Observer]

The fresh English writer Robert Knox says in the Historical Loved ones regarding Ceylon (1681): “Contained in this country each man, probably the top, hath but you to wife; however, a woman commonly possess a couple of husbands

The latest habit didn’t refrain the fresh find of your own European writers of your own colonial several months that have leftover all of us vibrant meanings away from the fresh new customized as it existed Dortmund women marrying american man next. The fresh Portuguese historian Joao Ribeiro states within his Fatalidado Historica da Ilha de Ceilao (1685) that once the wedding service try concluded, the original night of consummation are assigned to the brand new spouse, the second so you’re able to their sis, the next to another brother, and the like as far as the brand new seventh night, whenever if there become more brothers, the rest aren’t entitled to the latest privilege of one’s oldest six. “These basic weeks being prior, the brand new partner doesn’t have higher claim with the their spouse than just his brothers has; in the event that he finds out her by yourself, the guy requires their unique to himself, but if one of his brothers end up being together with her, he never disturb them. They render its earnings toward a common stock, together with children telephone call every brothers indifferently their fathers”.

“Brand new Dutch missionary Philip Baldaeus in the Dysfunction regarding Ceylon (1672) claims that Sinhalese suggest that the conjugal obligation performed because of the their unique brothers and you can alludes to the outcome from a lady resident from Galle who “got believe adequate to whine of one’s require off duty into the their particular husband’s aunt thereon account”. For it are legal and common with all of them for a couple of brothers to keep household in addition to that wife, additionally the students carry out know and phone call both fathers”.

“The final good membership of your own routine is probably regarding Sir James Emerson Tennent in his monumental works Ceylon (1859) where according to him one to polyandry is present on the inside of Ceylon, mainly between your richer groups; from exactly who, you to definitely woman enjoys seem to 3 or 4 husbands, and regularly up to 7. The guy cards one as a general rule, this new husbands is actually people in an identical family, and more than frequently brothers. The brand new personalized is actually however not to ever remain judge for very long for british outlawed they a similar season, though it could have endured to own a considerable several months thereafter.

“Ponnambalam Arunachalam noticed in Twentieth century Thoughts out of Ceylon (1907) one to “Polyandry, whether or not unlawful, will continue to are present among the Kandyan peasantry, particularly in the fact out of brothers. Legislation against polyandry try evaded of the maybe not joining the brand new connection after all or of the joining it as which have that sister merely”.”

Why Polyandry Existed inside the Sri Lanka

Asiff Hussein typed: “As to how that it peculiar customized possess live getting thus enough time isn’t a difficult matter to resolve, because of the character of your Kandyan and also the almost every other societies where we know to have prevailed. Poverty, a need to limit family relations proportions and to keep possessions undivided for the family have been completely the top circumstances with led to the endurance and maybe even the emergence out of polyandry in these communities. That biggest factor that seems to have led to the dominance throughout the days of the brand new Kandyan Kings are evidently brand new behavior out-of Rajakariya otherwise compulsory provider on the condition exacted regarding the land-holding men populace. [Source: Asiff Hussein, Week-end Observer]