The Social, Cultural, and Economic Background of Kinship: A Revisit to E. R. Leach’s Pul Eliya Research on Kinship and Land Tenure in Traditional Sinhalese Society

Abstract

Family, marriage, and kinship are fundamental to the preservation and maintenance of social order. In particular, the entire social system in traditional societies was largely based on kinship. The main objective of this research is to examine how the social, cultural, and economic relationships based on kinship in traditional Sinhalese society, as described by E. R. Leach (1961), have changed in the present. Traditional Sri Lankan Sinhalese society has undergone significant transformations due to factors such as colonization, urbanization, and globalization. Accordingly, the social organization based on kinship is currently facing a number of challenges. As a result, interpersonal relationships rooted in kinship are gradually disappearing from society. This constitutes the central problem of the study. This research focuses on two Grama Seva Divisions, Pul Eliya and Kalawalpathana, located in the Medawachchiya Divisional Secretariat Division of the Anuradhapura District. A sample of 50 family units—25 from Pul Eliya and 25 from Kalawalpathana—was randomly selected, representing approximately 15% of the total population. Data were collected through interviews (using an interview schedule) and observation. The findings indicate that traditional social organization has undergone substantial change. The transformation from an extended family system in the past to a predominantly nuclear family system in the present has been a major factor contributing to the weakening of kinship ties. Cross-cousin marriage (ævæssa gnāti sahōdara vivāhaya), which was common in the past, has almost completely disappeared today. In earlier times, when a villager committed an offense, punishment was often administered through the caste system. However, with the establishment of the modern legal system, this practice has been eliminated. Marriage, as well as caste, was once a key determinant of land tenure. Today, however, caste hierarchy has largely diminished. Furthermore, there is a growing trend of people moving away from traditional agriculture and migrating to urban areas in search of employment. As a result, maintaining active kinship ties has become increasingly difficult. Based on these findings, several recommendations can be proposed, including promoting awareness of the value of kinship among the younger generation, teaching children the importance of family and relatives, and encouraging renewed engagement with agriculture.