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Marriage law in Colombo, Sri Lanka is shaped by customary, statutory, and religious elements with an underlying framework mainly driven by the General Marriages Ordinance. It recognizes marital unions under Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, each with its regulations. Recognized marriages must be registered, and you must meet specific age requirements. Also, monogamy is the legal standard, albeit with exceptions under Islamic law.
Legal advice can be crucial when navigating the complexities of marriage law, identifying applicable laws, and dealing with marital disputes and separations. A lawyer can help with prenuptial agreements, child custody, property partitioning, and to ensure a fair matrimonial process that upholds the client's rights.
The General Marriages Ordinance governs civil marriages. The minimum age for a legal marriage is 18. For certain religious ceremonies, different laws apply, like the Kandyan Marriage Law and the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. Monogamy is generally the rule, however polygamy is allowed under Islamic law. Divorces, alimony, child custody, and marital property distribution are primarily adjudicated following the provisions under the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance and the Maintenance Act. For any legal action in these areas, the process usually begins at the District Court.
The legal minimum age for marriage is 18 years for both men and women in all communities except for Muslims who raise the age to 12 for girls.
Polygamy is generally illegal in Sri Lanka, but Muslim men can marry up to four wives under Islamic Law.
Initiating a divorce process requires filing an action at the District Court, citing the reason for an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
Sri Lankan law does not explicitly recognize prenuptial agreements, but they may be considered during a separation when deciding the division of marital assets.
Asset division upon divorce depends on the spouses' marital regime. Under a general matrimonial regime, the court adjudicates property separation considering the contributions made by each party.
The Department of Registrar General oversees the marriage registration process. The Ministry of Justice provides legal help through the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka, a useful resource for those who can't afford a private lawyer. Various legal help and women's rights organizations provide aid particularly regarding family law and women rights.
If you need legal assistance related to marriage, select an experienced lawyer in family law. You may also find it helpful to familiarize yourself with Sri Lanka's marriage laws and seek free legal advice through various non-profit organizations or the Legal Aid Commission.
