Amendments to Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act

While taking necessary action to amend the Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act, steps have also been taken to draft a Bill to amend the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, the cabinet ministers said.

Accordingly, the Cabinet ministers have approved an amendment to Section 22 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance.

The consent of the parents is required for the marriage in the event of a minor.

According to the judgement of the Gunaratnam case against the Registrar General, a party under the age of 18 cannot enter into a valid marriage in Sri Lanka.

Parents’ permission or consent to such a marriage is invalid before the law.

According to that judgement, the provisions pertaining to the law authorising the marriage of a minor with the consent of a competent authority should be repealed. 

The government approved the proposal tabled by the Justice Minister to repeal the relevant inconsistencies in the Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act and to advice the legal draftsman to prepare a Bill for the same. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)