Amendments to Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act

• The consent of the parents  was required for the marriage of a minor

The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to repeal the provisions pertaining to the law authorising the marriage of a minor with the consent of a competent authority in the Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act.  

Authorising the marriage of a minor with the consent of a competent authority in the Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act.  Section 22 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance was amended by the Marriage Registration Act No. 12 of 1997 (Amended), stipulating that the consent of the parents  was required for the marriage of a minor. According to the judgement of the decided case of Gunaratnam against the Registrar General, a party under the age of 18 years cannot enter into a valid marriage in Sri Lanka. Parents’ permission or consent to such a marriage was invalid before the law.  

Accordingly, steps have already been taken to draft a Bill to amend the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act and concurrently to that, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal tabled by the Minister of Justice to repeal the relevant inconsistencies.  Steps have already been taken to draft a Bill to amend the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act and concurrently to that, to repeal the relevant inconsistencies in the Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act.      

• A party under the age of 18 years cannot enter into a valid marriage in Sri Lanka