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Montage of Sexuality.Pdf MONTAGE OF SEXUALITY IN SRI LANKA 1 MONTAGE OF SEXUALITY IN SRI LANKA Santhushya Fernando, MBBS, MSc, MD (Community Medicine) Senel Wanniarachchi, B.A. Hons. (International Relations) Janaki Vidanapathirana, MBBS, MSc, MD (Community Medicine) DEDICATION To all those who will look in the mirror tonight and see a sexual facet of themselves and touch a deep part within to be a kinder person tomorrow. This book is for anyone who has ever loved themselves or anyone else. First published in 2018 College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, United Nations Population Fund, Sri Lanka, Wijerama House, 202-204, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, No. 06, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07. P.O. Box. 1505, Colombo 07. https://ccpsl.org Copyright College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, United Nations Population Fund, Sri Lanka All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopy- ing, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. ISBN : 978-955-7680-03-3 Citation : Fernando, S., Wanniarachchi, S., Vidanapathirana, J., (2018) Montage of Sexuality in Sri Lanka, College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, United Nations Population Fund, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Designed by Hash Bandara Umanga Samarasighe Printed by Ari Investments (Pvt) Ltd 19, St. Josephs’ Road, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka Tele: 285 2410 Fax: 282 2615 E-mail: [email protected] CONTENT Glimpses In to The History Of 12 Polygamy & Polyandry 81 Sexuality In Sri Lanka Gender Spectrum 23 Sexuality & The Disabled Persons 87 Sexual Identity 36 Sex After Major Health Event 92 Child Sexual Abuse 48 Sexuality And Ageing 96 Teenage Pregnancy 54 Vaginismus 100 Virginity 57 Commercial Sex Work 103 Sex During Pregnancy 62 Intimate Partner Violence 108 Sexuality In The Digital Age 64 Sexual Liberty 112 Pornography 69 People Living With HIV 117 Sexless Marriage 72 Morbid Jealousy And Infidelity 122 Female Genital Mutilation 76 FOREWORD Sexuality is an intrinsic part of life and connotes the totality of a human being. Unlike the word ‘sex’ that represents a physiologic act or the categorizations into which human beings are often boxed into; sexuality denotes the most intimate feelings and deepest longings of humans to find sexual expression and meaningful relationships with others and often with their own identities. 10 Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves as sexual beings. This involves biological, erotic, physical, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. It includes a link to sex, gender, gender identity and expression, gender roles, sexual orientation, sexual characteristics and experiences, thoughts, ideas, and fantasies. It also entails how we experience intimacy, pleasure, touch, love, compassion, joy, and sorrow. Sexuality also affects and is affected and often controlled by cultural, political, legal, philosophical, moral, ethical and religious aspects of life. Sexuality could also result in violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigma and prejudice, especially when one’s sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or sexual characteristics, desires and practices are different or perceived to be different from what is the norm in the social context in question. Of course, sexuality doesn’t exist in a vacuum and often intersects with a range of other factors, including, class, gender, race, age, religion, disability, health and economic status etc. and the way in which different people experience and express their sexuality and how society responds to the same could vary based on these factors and others. Sexual health is an integral component of preventive health in Sri Lanka. In spite of a long-documented history of acceptance of the diversity of sexuality as a part of the complex human condition, there are gaps in the modern society in understanding and appropriately responding to sexuality. This book attempts to capture a diverse spectrum of sexuality related issues in Sri Lanka. It also profiles background information in relation to Sri Lanka from the context of different topics pertaining to sexuality, history and existing laws and policies. It profiles a number of authentic narrations by both known and anonymous contributors. This book culminates into a montage of sexuality in Sri Lanka profiling deeply personal and moving acounts of the experience in sexuality in a multi-cultural island nation. The way in which different Sri Lankans express and experience their sexuality varies vastly from each other. The purpose of this book is not by any means to capture all facets of that diversity – this is by no means possible. This book represents the voices of different people to deepen our collective understanding of sexuality. The authors aim to highlight some previously unexpressed aspects of the lives of those who have narrated their stories. Our objective is to closely represent the sexuality experiences of different people in our society so that others, healthcare professionals in particular, will be more empathetic and accepting of sexuality related issues. The authors hope that these deeply personal and sensitive narratives will build a bridge across the human experience and the healthcare structures and stakeholders in Sri Lanka. We hope that these stories and the accompanying analyses could inspire a sense of Santhushya Fernando understanding and empathy and take us a small step forward to being a society that could Senel Wanniarachchi respect the inalienable dignity of Sri Lankans in all their diversity and celebrate the plurality we all undeniably live amongst. Janaki Vidanapathirana 11 GLIMPSES IN TO THE HISTORY OF SEXUALITY IN SRI LANKA Reminders of what was a more “sexually liberal “ past” can be seen painted on our walls or carved “ and etched in stone. 12 Human beliefs, practices and taboos on which the government stopped issuing in 2012. Perera, show women with no garments sexuality have varied in different periods of Similar depictions of women are found in the waist above. time in different parts of the world, with what Ajanta caves in Maharashthra, India and in the At the Ridi Viharaya, built by King Dutugemunu nd was considered ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ at the finely carved wood carvings in the Embekka in the 2 century BC, located 20 kilometers time, often being controlled by a complex Temple in Kandy from the Gampola Era from Kurunegala in a small village called Ridi and constantly changing plethora of factors. (14th Century) built by King Vikramabahu III. Gama, is an ivory carving of a design called These factors include the dominant culture, the Pancha Naari Gataya which shows five religion, politics and the media. For instance, A similar scene of love making as well as an women, bare chested, interwoven together how and how much one chose to reveal or image of a bare chested woman playing drums accompanied by two lions carved on either is found in the lower chamber of the Mulkirigala conceal them, have often been politicized rd sides. A similar decorative brass carving of and commoditized based on when and where cave temple from the Kandyan Era (3 five women fighters practicing together from one lived. This is especially true for women. Century B.C.) located in the Hambantota the Kandyan era is now at the National district. The temple is known by locals as ‘Punchi Museum in Colombo. Reminders of what was a more ‘sexually Seegiriya’ (Little Sigiriya). Furthermore, liberal past’ can be seen painted on our walls The sculpture of the Isurumuniya Lovers at in statues and paintings found in the Kathaluwa the Isurumuniya temple in Anuradhapura (6th or carved and etched in stone. The paintings temple in Koggala, women who appear to of the frescos in the ancient Sigiriya rock century) shows a woman, seated on the man’s be from the upper echelons of society are lap, lifting her finger. Some historians say the fortress in the Matale District, built during seen to cover their chests simply with what the reign of King Kashyapa in the 5th Century figures may represent King Dutugemunu’s appear to look like shawls. The temple is eldest son Saliya and “the low caste” maiden B.C., depict women, who besides their believed to have been built in the 13th century. necklaces, armlets, wristlets, ear and hair Asokamala whom he dearly loved for whom Particularly noteworthy is the statue of the he is known to have abdicated his throne. ornaments and what appear to be delicate images of Kinnara and Kinnari from the Sanda tattoos encircling in their necks, are bare Kinduru Jataka (Channa Kinnara Jataka) A stone carving at the Nalanda Gedige, the chested. They illustrate the historical absence which tells a story of a previous life of the ancient stone building in Matale, believed th th of social taboo relating to women exposing Buddha where the Kinnari is seen wearing to have been built between the 8 and 10 their upper bodies, as men continue to enjoy simply a chest band to cover her chest. In centuries with a hybrid style of architecture to this date. The adjacent Mirror Wall or Kathaluwa, there are several paintings in including Hindu elements and Tantric Buddhist Ketapath Pavura is full of poems written in lyrical which women appear to cover their chests carvings, depicts two humans engaging in sexual and sensual language about the frescos’ beauty. with garments that appear to look like intercourse with what appears to be a lion. In October 14, 1967, a mob had secretly bibs. In stark contrast, the same temple has It is unclear if the two humans are two men vandalized these world famous paintings of paintings, which have presumably been added or a man and a woman. In the left side of the the frescos by smearing paint over them.
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