It is a (Hindu) custom among Tamil Hindus throughout Sri Lanka to marry first cousins. If first cousins are not available, the preference is for marriage to a member of the extended family and only then to someone from the outside.

Is marrying your cousin legal in Sri Lanka?

There is no biological or genetic reason why a marriage between cross cousins should be preferable to a marriage between parallel cousins. And most legal systems do not make the distinction either, including Sri Lanka, where all first cousin marriages are legal.

Is it actually legal to marry your cousin?

Twenty-four states prohibit marriages between first cousins. Twenty states and the District of Columbia allow cousins to marry; six states permit first-cousin marriage only under certain circumstances.

Is it bad to marry a cousin?

Marrying a cousin is usually considered a bad idea, because inbreeding can lead to harmful genetic conditions. But paradoxically, in some societies, marrying a related spouse is linked to having more surviving children, research suggests.

What is family life like in Sri Lanka?

Three or four generations often live together, with the male side of the family connecting the relations. While the mother holds a significant amount of household authority and is respected, the father (or eldest son) is usually the patriarch.

What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?

Sinhala Tamil Sri Lanka/Official languages The 13th Amendment in 1987 to Article 18 of the 1978 Constitution stated that “the official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala” while “Tamil shall also be an official language,” with English as a “link language.” While this recognized both Sinhala and Tamil as official languages, the wording was still contentious, as