Factors associated with male elopement with underage girlfriends in the Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Males who elope with underage girlfriends below 16 years of age are arrested by police in Sri Lanka and subjected to clinical forensic examination for prosecution under statutory rape and abduction laws.
Methods: During the three-year period from 2017 to 2019, the author/s examined 49 such males in the Anuradhapura District. The reasons for elopement and demographic characteristics were analysed retrospectively.
Results: The ages of the males ranged from 15 to 34 years, with a mean of 21.4 years and the highest frequency observed at 20 years (n=7). All examinees were aware of the legal age of consent for sexual intercourse and the legal age of marriage, and all expressed the intention to marry their female partners when legally permissible. Occupational histories revealed unemployment (18 cases), unskilled labour (n=11), skilled labour (n=4), farming (n=4), military service (n=4), private sector employment (n=3), business ownership (n=3 cases), carpentry (n=1), and masonry (n=1). Several reasons for elopement were identified: hostile domestic environment of the female partner, including physical assaults and scalds by parents or guardians (n=20); absence of a stated reason (n=6); attempts by the female partner’s parents to separate the couple (n=5); insistence of the female partner (n=5); unsafe living conditions at the female partner’s home (n=5); advice by the female partner’s parents (n=4); and disclosure of the romantic relationship to the female partner’s parents (n=3). One exceptional case involved a romantic relationship between half-siblings, which was opposed by both families.
Conclusion: Within the sociocultural context of Sri Lanka, judicial responses should prioritize psychosocial management and facilitation of lawful future marriage over punitive measures, as all couples expressed their intention to marry.