The book examines the changes in marriage patterns and statistics in recent years in South Asia and particularly Sri Lanka where the facts on changes in marriage patterns are astounding, making Sri Lanka an ideal case study. It studies how social change has affected marriage especially nature of the marriage relationship, and the arrangement and process of marriage. It emphasises the economic context of marriage. The discussion is placed in a wider context by contrasting the situation in Sri Lanka with that in rest of South Asia. Some aspects of South Asian literature, particularly Sri Lankan, regarding marriage are studied.