What Are the True Reason for Divorces in Sri Lanka?

Abstract

The Objectives of the researcher is to look in to the reasons legally stated as the causes for the divorce and to what extent they differ from the ‘true’ causes for divorce. It was also inquired into the reasons given by both male or female and tried to bring out the differences between them with regarded to the reasons for divorced. The researcher also proposes steps that could be taken to reduce the number of divorces. This particular research was based on the Western province and mainly Gampaha district. Gampaha district was chosen for the research as people of different cultural and social backgrounds live in Gampaha. A hundred questionnaires were distributed covering 50 families comprising males and females in different economic, educational backgrounds and holding different jobs. The methods use by the researcher was the survey conducted from 1 march 2016 to 2016 September 01. The data is collected through qualitative and quantitative approach by the distribution questionnaires. It was collected through helpers, phones and by the researcher herself. Analysis was done by probability sample through stratified Sample. Most of the true reasons are different from the legal reasons. The main reason which they called upon to courts was malicious desertion. If the reason was adultery subsequent to marriage it has to be proven the proper way, like by a police report. So it is very difficult to prove. And incurable impotency also has to be proven by a doctor. So most of them use malicious desertion or constructive malicious desertion for the divorce as reason because they do not want to answer questions about their character or sexual life. And also many people are not divorced but are only legally separated. Some are separated but not legally. If they are legally separated for two years they can seek divorce. And if they are not in a same house and stay without sex also have reason for divorce. So the new approach is not to divorce but only legal or non-legal separation. The true reasons found out from females are homo sexuality cases, lack of understanding, sexual disability, family interference, and communication problems. The male’s true reasons as found out are homo sexuality cases, family inferference, and communication problems Researcher proposes a free counseling system for everyone in Sri Lanka, to teach sexual education in the schools, and to change the law to safe guard privacy.