The term is widely used across various social groups in Sri Lanka, including male-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), female sex workers (FSWs), and transgender women (TGW)
Today, Gal Kanawa survives mostly as a metaphor in Sinhala literature and colloquial speech. To say someone is “eating stones” means they are enduring a difficult but necessary hardship, or engaging in a pointless struggle. In a modern context, the term is used to critique toxic work cultures where employees “eat stones” by accepting unbearable conditions. Conversely, it can signify resilience—the ability to swallow pride, endure loss, and keep moving forward. Gal Kapanawa