The traditional classical Sinhalese literature in Sri Lanka has a long history, and contemporary literature began during the British colonial period in the 19th century. Fictional novels first appeared in 1905. This article focuses on the relationship between Sinhalese novels and social changes in the 1980s.

1、 Social consciousness

Early Sri Lankan novelists had a strong social consciousness, believing that novels should reflect real life and draw inspiration from personal experiences. Through his works, writers such as Martin Weikrama Xinhe have demonstrated their understanding of social responsibility. Although works such as "Mina" do not explicitly reveal social changes, they reflect social reality through character behavior and contradictions. At the same time, some writers aim to change social order and pursue political change through novels. Both types of works expose social reality, sometimes even interwoven within the works of the same author. Studying Sinhalese novels, social change is the core theme.

2、 Cultural Conflict

Explored the manifestation of cultural conflicts in Sri Lankan Sinhalese novels, particularly through themes of marriage and family. Writers from different religious backgrounds showcase their religious tendencies and cultural differences through their works. In early novels, young people independently choose their partners, but religion remains an important consideration factor. As a Buddhist writer, Pierdar Sirisena's works reflect criticism of Western culture and Christianity, while emphasizing the revival of traditional customs and ethnic religions. Isaac de Silva advocated Western marriage customs, in contrast to Sirisena's views. These works and the views of the authors have had a widespread impact and discussion in Sri Lankan society.

3、 From rural areas to cities

Martin Wickremesinghe's trilogy "The Great Changes in the Countryside," "The Dark Ages," and "The End of Time" depict the transition of Sri Lankan society from rural to urban areas in the first half of the 20th century through the stories of four generations of a family. The Great Changes in the Countryside "depicts the economic pressure and maintenance of family reputation of a wealthy family in the Kograd region, as well as the rise of commerce in the countryside. The Dark Ages tells the story of Nanda's adaptation to urban life and her children's resistance to their parents' way of life, reflecting the loss of family prestige and the alienation of intergenerational relationships. The End of the Times focuses on the third and fourth generations, showcasing their forgetting of rural sentiments after establishing themselves in the city, as well as the younger generation's resistance to the bourgeois way of life. Through these works, Vikramasinghe truthfully documented the significant changes in Sri Lankan society, particularly the role of intellectuals influenced by socialist and Marxist ideas in political and social change.

4、 Marriage view

In Sri Lankan society, the concept of marriage is deeply influenced by tradition, and parents have the decision-making power over their children's marriage. In 'The Great Changes in the Countryside', Nanda obeys her parents' wishes and marries a non ideal partner. In "Illusion" and "The Dark Ages," Nanda, as a mother, also opposes her daughter falling in love with a man from a humble background. In 'The End of Time', Nalika opposes her daughter's relationship with a man from an ordinary background, reflecting the continuation of traditional beliefs. However, the younger generation, such as Nalika's daughter and the female characters in 'Desire Free', tend to choose their partners freely. As time goes by, the attitudes of some young parents are also changing.

5、 Trade and Social Life

At the beginning of the 16th century, Sri Lanka was influenced by Western colonization, resulting in significant changes in social life. Weikrama Xinhe depicts that the southern coast and Colombo are deeply influenced by the West, while the eastern part of Konimahara is less affected. The people of Kegler mainly engage in commercial trade and attach great importance to coconut production, with some people relocating to places such as Colombo. The Koni Mahara people make a living from agriculture and are respected for cultivating paddy fields. The Sinhalese villagers in the central region make a living by cultivating land and hope that their children will inherit their father's business.

6、 Conceptual transformation

The popularization of rural schools and free compulsory education in Sri Lanka in the 1940s made higher education open to all young people, resulting in an increase in the number of university graduates, particularly in the humanities. These graduates and their families are starting to change their mindset and no longer see farming as an ideal career. This conceptual change is reflected in literary works, such as Suleweller's 1973 work depicting a scene where a father prevents his son from graduating from university from farming, and Ratnayake's 1960 satire on educated people farming in "Five Acres". Educated young people try to introduce modern machinery into agriculture and become role models. However, the issue of unemployment among highly educated young people remains a challenge for Sri Lanka, as documented in multiple novels.

7、 Clothing

Sri Lankan Sinhalese novels reflect social changes through clothing details. The daily attire of fishermen and farmers is similar, and low caste people traditionally do not wear tops. With the passage of time, clothing gradually became westernized, such as principal Langgit wearing national clothing and leather shoes, and young people with English education backgrounds imitating British clothing. In the 1960s, long pants became a symbol of English education. The long beards, long hair, and denim pants of modern youth, as well as women wearing jeans, are all new trends. Wedding attire has also evolved from traditional to modern simplicity, such as the groom wearing a coat and pants, and the bride wearing a sari and tight fitting top. The author's criticism of blindly imitating Western clothing reflects society's acceptance and reflection on Western culture.

8、 Caste system

Although the caste system of the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka is not as strict as in India, it still has a significant impact on social life. The novel "The Great Fury" by Pierdar Sirisena explores the relationship between caste, marriage, social status, and religious beliefs through the love story of high caste men and low caste women. Although caste issues are sensitive in Sri Lankan society, some writers such as Alavara Namdimitra and K. Jayatillek have addressed this theme in their works. The petition event in Rajapaksa Mansion reflects people's different views on the importance of caste, while young people, highly educated individuals, and urban residents have relatively lower levels of emphasis on caste. Although the influence of caste in daily life is gradually diminishing, it still plays an important role in the political field. Janis Jenkins pointed out that the caste of political party members is closely related to the image and composition of the party. K. In Jayatillek's' People Who Don't Belong to Two Worlds', political party leaders also mentioned the importance of caste when discussing candidates. I Kiss You "and" Rajapaksa Mansion "showcase the influence of caste on individual fate and social status through stories from different families.

9、 Intergenerational relationship: parents and children

In contemporary Sinhalese novels in Sri Lanka, the intergenerational relationship between parents and children is often depicted as a complex relationship filled with differences in ideas, behaviors, and values. No matter what challenges parents face, they hope to provide their children with the best education and life, hoping that they can surpass their own experiences. However, in the process of pursuing social status and career success, children often distance themselves from their parents, and sometimes even become estranged from them due to marriage choices. The novels "House of Darkness" and "Puchilale" showcase the contradiction between parents' expectations for their children and reality, as well as children's self pursuit and neglect of parental responsibilities in urban life, through the stories of different families. Parents in urban backgrounds often bear the pressure of maintaining social status, while children may see their parents as tools to meet their own needs. Nevertheless, parents still take pride in their children's achievements, reflecting their deep love and expectations for them.

10、 Rural and Urban

By comparing the rural and urban backgrounds of the novel, it reveals the social changes in Sri Lanka. Rural life is depicted as simple and rustic, while urban life appears complex and varied, especially among the middle class. Despite the harsh living conditions, residents of urban slums can maintain their authenticity and freedom. The hospitality style of the Asonis and Baradeva families demonstrates the city's emphasis on material and image. Rural children yearn for Colombo, while some people in Colombo are dissatisfied with the current situation and choose to go abroad to seek a better life, resulting in their parents becoming left behind elderly. The Death of Puchilal reflects the changes in family relationships and values during the urbanization process through the story of Puchilal's children. Puchilale's children achieved success in the city, while their father became insignificant. They plan to sell their old house and land, and the buyer is the daughter of a maid who used to work in their home, which reflects the reversal and change of social status.

11、 Going abroad

The employment of Sri Lankans in the Middle East has a significant impact on the domestic socio-economic situation, but domestic writers have paid insufficient attention to this issue. In the early days, opportunities to go abroad were scarce, and a few people gained wealth and status through going abroad, such as the administrative officials described in "The Death of Puchilale". After 1977, the economic opening-up policy relaxed restrictions on foreign exchanges, increased imports of goods, and changed social status and values. Recently, going abroad has become a hot topic among young writers.

12、 Cultural infiltration

Explored the new colonial culture formed by urban residents in Sri Lanka under the influence of Eastern and Western cultures and its dissemination process in Sri Lanka. Cultural infiltration can be divided into three stages: in the first stage, new immigrants acquire wealth through hard work and face issues with their children's education; In the second stage, material wealth increases, but attention to learning decreases, and people begin to pursue material enjoyment; In the third stage, modern lifestyles will be introduced into rural areas through government funded exhibitions and other activities, but this lifestyle relies on the consumer economy and may undermine the economic stability of villagers. At the same time, the popularity of going abroad and the emergence of career agencies also reflected the change in social mentality at that time.

13、 Cassette culture

This paper discusses the impact of Sri Lankan returnees from the Middle East on local culture, especially the impact of their cassette stores on traditional entertainment. The film "Goldfish Garden" depicts a young man opening a music and video store, which received praise from local lawmakers, but the rise of this emerging industry has also led to the marginalization of other forms of entertainment. The owner of a music and video store, although successful in his career, neglected to care for his parents.

14、 Gemstone Wealth Culture

The rise of Sri Lanka's gemstone industry is closely linked to social changes. In the past two decades, the gemstone business has become a focus of social attention, giving rise to a new subculture. The Flowing River of Gems "showcases the profound influence of gemstone wealth culture on personal destiny and social values through the plot of a postman switching careers to gemstone mining, accumulating wealth, pursuing fame and reputation, investing in movies, extramarital affairs, and family breakdown.

15、 Crisis of values

Contemporary Sinhalese novels in Sri Lanka reveal the crisis of social and moral values, particularly the prevalence of the concept of money supremacy. The characters in the novel resort to any means necessary for money, and there is a lack of social trust. The author expresses their regret for the fallen society and their desire for reform through their works. Some writers have begun to explore the path of change, pursuing macro level changes in social organizations while strongly condemning changes that lead to social regression.