An Introduction to Modernity as it is evident in Sri Lankan Society (A Study Based on Modern Sinhala Fictions)

Abstract

As a consequence of the socio-economic changes that took place in Sri Lanka during the colonial era, traditional socio-economic institutions which had been executed in the past underwent a notable transformation. The emergence of new social institutions coupled with the development of a navel form of social order reached its climax under the British colonial regime. This movement contributed to introduce vast range of economic and social changes in the Lankan society during the early nineteenth century and came to be termed later as the modern period. The present study is an attempt to examine how this transition is reflected realistically in fictions pertaining to that period. For this study Marxist theory on socio-economics factors and subaltern theory is adopted in reviewing literary perspective of the contemporary society. Qualitative data analysis was the method followed in analyzing data. Proliferation of new towns was seen as an outcome of industrialization and urbanization, which eventually became the hub of business enterprises and administrative activities. These newly cropped up establishments gradually grew up exerting a great influence on the daily activities of the people of all walks of life. An in-depth study suggests that the tone of the pre-colonial Sinhala fiction, in content-wise and vision-wise was a far cry from its post-colonial counterpart. The objective of the present study is to demonstrate how far it was successful in portraying this transitionary process in a realistic perspective.