Sri Lankan brides seek justice after foreign husbands abandon them

• A rising number of cases in recent years of Sri Lankan women being abandoned by foreign husbands post-honeymoon
• One lawyer detailed how his client had been lured by promises of a better life abroad

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

A concerning trend of young Sri Lankan women being abandoned by foreign husbands shortly after marriage has come to light following a recent submission made by a lawyer before a Colombo court.

The lawyer, who represents one of the affected women, described how these women are left in despair after their foreign spouses leave the country post-honeymoon, forcing the women to seek legal remedies to secure divorces and compensation.

In the specific case taken up before Colombo Additional District Judge Chandima Edirimanne, the lawyer detailed how his client had been lured by promises of a better life abroad. She married a foreign national during his stay in Sri Lanka. He said the defendant foreigner left the country soon after the marriage, abandoning her. “My client is living in desperation and hopelessness,” the lawyer stated, emphasising the psychological and financial toll such abandonment inflicts on these women.

The client in question is now seeking alimony of Rs. 500,000 along with a divorce. However, the foreign defendant has reportedly refused to pay the amount, leaving the young woman to navigate the challenging path of legal action against the foreign spouse. The defendant was represented by a lawyer.

“This case is not isolated,” the lawyer argued, noting that there is a growing number of such cases in recent years. “These young women, often full of hope and optimism, are left devastated when the dreams of a greener pasture abroad crumble,” the lawyer said.

This phenomenon not only leaves women in dangerous situations but also underscores a deeper aspect of the current socio-economic crisis in the country. A significant aspect of this crisis is the lack of legal awareness among affected women. Many enter into marriages without understanding their legal rights, both in Sri Lanka and in the husband’s country.