Virandi Wettewa

The Geography of Marriage: Contemporary Arranged Marriages in Sri Lanka Virandi Wettewa

----?Choose your love and love your choice? ?--- (Thomas S. Monson). From Royals to commoners, the wealthy to the destitute, arranged marriages date centuries back and are still the norm in most parts of South Asia. Why do people opt for arranged marriages in lieu of the romanticized tales of love that the modern day media glorifies? And are there gold standards of perfection that those opting for an arranged marriage strive to find in their partners? This research conducted on modern day Sri Lanka attempts to unravel the raison d'être behind choosing one?s life partner via more conventional matrimonial services. Based on a series of interviews and content analysis of over one hundred matrimonial advertisements in national newspapers, the study explores the concepts of body image, patriarchy and imperialism that ultimately shape the possibilities of Sri Lanka?s youth.