MARRIAGES (GENERAL) [Cap.

131

CHAPTER 131
MARRIAGES ( GENERAL )
Ordinances AN ORDINANCE TO CONSOLIDATE AND AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO MARRIAGES
Nos.l9 of l907, OTHER THAN THE MARRIAGES OF MUSLIMS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE BETTER
27 of 1917,
8 of 1922, REGISTRATION THEREOF.
18 of 1929,
27 of 1931.
15 of 1940,
49 of 1944,
20 of 1945,
34 of 1946,
47 of 1947,
Acts
Nos.22 of l955,
l1 of 1963,
3 of 1970.
Laws
Nos.41 of 1975,
23 of 1978.
[1st January, 1908.]

Short title. 1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Marriages. Any person so appointed may
Marriage Registration Ordinance. exercise, perform or discharge any power,
duty or function expressly conferred or
Appointment 2. (1) There may be appointed a imposed upon the Assistant Registrar-
of Registrar- Registrar-General of Marriages for Sri General, and may subject to the directions
General and
his duties. Lanka. of the Minister and under the authority and
control of the Registrar-General, exercise,
(2) The Registrar-General shall, subject perform or discharge any power, duty or
to the directions of the Minister, have the function conferred or imposed upon the
general control and superintendence of the Registrar-General, by or under this
registration of marriages under the Ordinance.
provisions of this Ordinance, and of all
persons appointed for or engaged in the 4. (1) For each district there shall be a District
carrying out of the provisions of this District Registrar of Marriages. Registrars.
Ordinance.
(2) The Government Agent of a district
Appointment (3) There may be appointed a fit and shall be the District Registrar for that
of Deputy proper person to be or to act as a Deputy district.
Registrar-
Genera! and Registrar-General of Marriages.
his duties. (3) Every Additional Government Agent,
[§§2 and 3, (4) The Deputy Registrar-General may, Assistant Government Agent, Additional
Law 23 of subject to the authority and control of the Assistant Government Agent and Office
1978.]
Registrar-General for the time being, Assistant to a Government Agent, of a
exercise, perform or discharge any power, district shall be an Additional District
duty or function conferred or imposed upon Registrar for that district.
such Registrar-General by or under this
Ordinance or by or under any other written (4) Every Assistant Registrar-General
law. shall be an Additional District Registrar for
the district of Colombo.
Appointment 3. There may from time to time be
of Assistant appointed a fit and proper person or each of (5) There may be appointed any person
Registrars-
General and two or more such persons to be or to act as as a District Registrar or as an Additional
their duties. an A s s i s t a n t R e g i s t r a r - G e n e r a l of District Registrar in addition to, or in place

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Cap.131] MARRIAGES (GENERAL)
of, any officer who is a District Registrar or hand, to appoint a person to act as registrar
an Additional District Registrar by virtue of for such division so however that no such
the preceding provisions of this section. appointment shall be made by a District
Registrar for any period exceeding thirty
(6) Every District Registrar shall have days at any one time. Such acting
and may exercise within his district the appointment shall be forthwith entered
powers and duties vested by or under this under the hand of the officer making the
Ordinance in a registrar of a division, and appointment in a book to be kept for the
shall superintend and control, subject to the purpose.
direction of the Registrar-General, the
registration of marriages within the district, 7. (1) The Minister may from time to Power to make
and the registrars hereinafter mentioned, time make rules for the direction of the rules.
and all other persons appointed for or Registrar-General, the District Registrars,
engaged in carrying out the provisions of registrars, ministers, and all persons
this Ordinance. whomsoever In the discharge of their duties
under this Ordinance, for all matters
Establishment 5. (1) The Minister may, by required by this Ordinance to be prescribed,
of registration Notification In the Gazette, divide the
divisions. and generally for the effective carrying out
several districts of Sri Lanka into such and of the provisions of this Ordinance.
so many divisions for the purpose of the
registration of marriages as shall appear (2) No rule made under this section shall
expedient, and may at any time by a like have effect until It Is approved by
Notification amend, alter or abolish any Parliament and notification of such
such division. approval is published in the Gazette.
(2) Every division which has been
8. (1) Every registrar shall dwell and Residence,
lawfully established at the commencement office, and
have his office in such convenient place in
of this Ordinance shall be deemed and taken station of
his division as shall be appointed by the registrar.
to be a division under the provisions of this
District Registrar, and shall, if so directed
Ordinance until such time as a new division
by the District Registrar, have within his
shall be constituted in lieu thereof under the
division a station or stations as may be
provisions of this Ordinance.
approved by the District Registrar, and
. (3) Every reference to any revenue district every such station shall, for the purposes of
in any Notification made under subsection the provisions of this Ordinance, with
(1) of this section before the commencement respect to the attendance of persons and the
of the Administrative Districts Act shall, registration of marriages at the office of the
after the commencement of that Act, registrar, be deemed to be his office:
be construed as a reference to the
administrative district consisting of the area Provided that the District Registrar may,
which constituted that revenue district. in the special circumstances of any case and
with the prior approval of the Registrar-
Appointment 6. The Registrar-General may appoint General, authorize a registrar to dwell or to
of registrars. one or more persons to each such division, have his office or to have a station at a place
who shall be called Registrars of Marriages, outside his division.
and any such registrar at pleasure he may
remove and appoint some other person in (2) The District Registrar shall forthwith
his place, or in the place of any registrar notify to the Registrar-General the places
who shall have died or resigned office, or appointed by the District Registrar as the
been granted leave of absence from his residence, office, and station or stations for
duties: every registrar of his district.

Provided that in case of the death, sudden 9. The registrar shall attend at his office Attendece of
illness, or incapacity of the registrar of a and at each such station on such days and registrar at his
division, or in case of other emergency, it during such hours as shall respectively be office.
shall be lawful for the Registrar-General or appointed by the District Registrar, and
District Registrar, by writing under his shall cause his name, with the addition of

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 MARRIAGES (GENERAL) [Cap. 131
the words " Registrar of Marriages " with 12. (1) If any building registered for the Cancellation or
the name of the division for which he is solemnization of marriages shall at any substitution of
registrar, and the days and hours of his subsequent period cease to be used for the registration of
building.
attendance as appointed by the District public Christian worship of the
Registrar, to be placed in legible characters congregation on whose behalf it was
in the Sinhala, Tamil and English languages registered, the minister, proprietor, or
in a conspicuous place on or near the trustee for the time being of such building
entrance of his office and station. shall with all convenient speed notify the
fact to the Registrar-General in form C in
Registration of 10. (1) The minister, proprietor, or the First Schedule, and the Registrar-
place of trustee of a building used as a place of General shall cause the registry thereof to be
worship for
solemnization public Christian worship may apply to the cancelled.
of marriage. Registrar-General that such building may be
registered for solemnizing marriages therein. (2) If it shall be proved to his satisfaction
that the same congregation use some other
(2) The application shall be in the form such building for the purpose of public
A in the First Schedule, and shall contain a Christian worship, he may register such new
declaration signed by at least twenty place of worship instead of the disused
householders, and countersigned by the said building.
minister, proprietor, or trustee, that they
frequent or intend to frequent such place of (3) Such cancellation or substitution
worship. when made shall be entered in the book
kept for the registry of such buildings, and
(3) The Registrar-General may register shall be certified and published in the
such place of worship for the solemnization manner prescribed in the case of the original
of marriages in a book to be kept by him for registry of the disused building.
that purpose, and he shall thereupon give a
certificate of such registry and of the date (4) After such cancellation or substitution
thereof under his hand, which certificate as aforesaid it shall not be lawful to
shall be in the form B in the First Schedule, solemnize any marriage in such disused
and the Registrar-General shall give public building, unless the same shall be again
notice of such registry by notification in the registered in the manner prescribed by
Gazette. section 10.

(4) No building shall be registered which 13. The Registrar-General may at any Rectification of
is not used for public Christian worship. time correct or cause to be corrected any errors.
error in any entry made in the book kept
(5) Any building already registered at under section 10 for the registration of
the time when this Ordinance comes into buildings.
operation shall be deemed to have been
registered under the provisions of this 14. The Registrar-General may from Publication of
Ordinance. time to time publish in the Gazette a list of lists .of
registrars and
the Registrars of Marriages in Sri Lanka, registered
Registration of 11. Where the population in any district with their names, the names of their buildings.
such place in is so scattered that it is difficult to procure divisions, offices, and stations, and a list of
thinly
populated the signatures of twenty householders, it the buildings registered for the
district, shall be lawful for the Registrar-General to solemnization of marriages therein, and of
issue his certificate upon a declaration which the registration has not been
signed by as many householders as live cancelled.
within convenient distance from the
building, and countersigned by the minister, 15. No marriage shall be valid, the male Prohibited age
proprietor, or trustee, and upon such other party to which has not completed sixteen of marriage.
evidence as the Registrar-General may years of age or the female twelve, or if a
require to satisfy him that the building is daughter of European or Burgher parents,
used for public Christian worship. fourteen years of age.

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Cap. 131] MARRIA GES ( GENERAL)
Prohibited 16. No marriage shall be valid— 20. (1) No suit or action shall lie in any Suits to compel
degrees of court to compel the solemnization of any marriage
relationship. , /. . prohibited.
(a) where either party shall be directly marriage by reason of any promise or
descended from the other; or contract of marriage, or by reason of the
seduction of any female, or by reason of any
(b) where the female shall be sister of cause whatsover.
the male either by the full or the
half-blood, or the daughter of his (2) No such promise, or contract, or
brother or of his sister by the full or seduction shall vitiate any marriage duly
the half-blood, or a descendant solemnized and registered under this
from either of them, or daughter of Ordinance.
his wife by another father, or his (3) Nothing herein contained shall
son's or grandson's or father's or prevent any person aggrieved from suing for
grandfather's widow; or or recovering in any court damages which
are lawfully recoverable for breach of
(c) where the male shall be brother of promise of marriage, for seduction, or for
the female either by the full or the any other cause:
half-blood, or the son of her
brother or sister by the full or the Provided that no action shall lie for the
half-blood, or a descendant from recovery of damages for breach of promise
either of them, or the son of her of marriage, unless such promise of
husband by another mother, or marriage shall have been made in writing.
her deceased daughter's or
granddaughter's or mother's or *22. (1) (a) The father of any Who may give
grandmother's husband. person under twenty-one years of consent to
marriage of a
age ; or minor.

Marriage of 17. Any marriage or cohabitation (b) if the father be dead or under legal
persons within between parties standing towards each other incapacity, or in parts beyond Sri
prohibited Lanka and unable to make known
degrees of in any of the above-enumerated degrees of
relationship an relationship shall be deemed to be an his will, the mother; or
offence. offence, and shall be punishable with
imprisonment, simple or rigorous, for any (c) if both father and mother be dead or
period not exceeding one year. under legal incapacity, or in pans
beyond Sri Lanka and unable to
make known their will, the
Second 18. No marriage shall be valid where
marriage guardian or guardians appointed
either of the parties thereto shall have
without legal over the party so under age by the
dissolution of contracted a prior marriage which-shall not
father, or if the father be dead or
first marriage have been legally dissolved or declared void.
invalid. under legal incapacity, by the
mother of such party or by a
Dissolution of 19. (1) No marriage shall be dissolved competent court,
marriage. during the lifetime of the parties except by
judgment of divorce a vinculo matrimonii shall have authority to give consent to the
pronounced in some competent court. marriage of such party, and such consent is
hereby required for the said marriage :
(2) Such judgment shall be founded
either on the ground of adultery subsequent Provided that no such consent shall be
to marriage, or of malicious desertion, or of required in the case of a widow or widower
incurable impotency at the time of such or a person who shall have been previously
marriage. married, and whose marriage shall have
been legally dissolved.
(3) Every court in Sri Lanka having
matrimonial jurisdiction is hereby declared (2) If there be no person authorized as
competent to dissolve a marriage on any aforesaid to give consent, or if the person so
such ground. authorized unreasonably withholds or

* Section 21 is repealed by Act No. 3 of 1970.

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 MA RRIAGES ( GENERA L) [Cap.131
refuses his or her consent, the Judge of the 24. (1) Every such notice may be given Form of notice
Family Court within whose jurisdiction the to the registrar at any place within his and
declaration.
party so under age resides, may, upon the division, and shall be in the form D in the
application of any party interested in such First Schedule, and shall state—
marriage, and after summary inquiry, give
consent to the said marriage, and such (a) the name in full, race, age,
consent is hereby required for the said profession, civil condition, and
marriage. dwelling place of each of the parties
intending marriage, and
Preliminaries 23. In every case of marriage intended
to be observed to be solemnized under the provisions of (b) if the case be so, that the other party
prior to a is absent from Sri Lanka or has not
marriage. Ordinance, the following preliminaries
shall be observed :— resided for ten days in any part of
Sri Lanka (as the case may be), and
(1) If the parties to an intended also
marriage have been both resident in Sri
Lanka for ten days, one of the parties shall (c) the name in full and rank or
give notice to a registrar of the division in profession of the father of each
which they have dwelt for not less than ten such party.
days then next preceding or to the District
Registrar in whose district they have so (2) Such notice shall also bear on its
dwelt. face or shall have attached thereto the
written consent of any person whose
consent is required by law.
(2) If both parties have not dwelt in the
same division for ten days then next
(3) The party giving the notice shall
preceding, but in different divisions, then
make and sign or subscribe a declaration in
each party shall give notice to a registrar of
writing in the body or at the foot of such
the division in which he or she has dwelt for
notice—
not less than ten days next preceding the
giving of such notice or to the District
(a) that he or she believes that there is
Registrar in whose district he or she has so
no impediment of kindred or
dwelt.
alliance or other lawful hindrance
to the said marriage,
(3) If one of the parties to an intended
marriage has not been resident in Sri Lanka (b) that he or she has for the space of
for ten days next immediately preceding the ten clear days or other prescribed
giving of notice, notice shall be given by the period immediately preceding the
other party who has been so resident to the giving of such notice dwelt within
registrar in whose division or to the District the division of the registrar to
Registrar in whose district he has been whom such notice shall be so given,
resident ten days next preceding the giving and
of such notice.
(c) that the consent of the person or
(4) If neither party has been resident for persons whose consent is required
ten days in Sri Lanka, notice may be given by law has been given.
to the registrar in whose division or to the
District Registrar in whose district one of (4) Every such notice and declaration
the parties has been resident for not less shall be so signed and subscribed in the
than four days. presence of any one of the following
persons, hereafter called an attesting officer,
(5) The notice given by one party under namely—
subsections (3) or (4) shall be a sufficient
notice of such intended marriage, and may (a) the registrar of the division, or
be given in anticipation of the arrival of the
other party from abroad. (b) a Justice of the Peace, or

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Cap.131] MARRIAGES (GENERAL)
(c) a notary, or 26. (1) At any time not less than issue of
twelve days (except as provided in section certificate.
(b) a minister, 27), nor more than three months (except as
provided in section 31) from the entry of the
and of two respectable witnesses. notice, the registrar, or where notice has
been given to two registrars, each of them,
The witnesses shall be personally acquainted or, in any case referred to in section 28, the
registrar nominated in that behalf by the
with the party giving the notice and (in the
Registrar-General or by the District
event of the party not being known to the
Registrar, shall upon application of the
attesting officer) also with the attesting party giving such notice, and on receipt of
officer, and shall sign the notice. The full the certified copy of the notice, if any, given
names, rank or profession, and place of to the other registrar, issue a certificate
abode of the witnesses shall be entered in substantially in the form F in the First
the said notice. Schedule:

(5) At the foot of the notice and Provided that in the meantime no lawful
declaration the attesting officer shall make a impediment to the issuing of such certificate
certificate substantially as in the final be shown to the registrar, and provided that
column of the form D in the First Schedule. the issuing of such certificate shall not have
been forbidden or a caveat entered in the
manner hereinafter provided.
(6) Every notice to a District Registrar
under subsections (1) or (2) and every notice (2) Every such certificate shall state—
under subsection (3) of section 23 shall bear
a stamp of the value of ten rupees, and (a) the day on which it was entered,
every notice under subsection (4) thereof
shall bear a stamp of the value of thirty (b) that the issue of the certificate has
rupees. The stamp shall be supplied by the not been forbidden by any person
party giving the notice. lawfully empowered in that behalf,
and
Publication of 25. (1) Every registrar to whom notice (c) that the full period of twelve days
notice. of an intended marriage is duly given as has elapsed since the entry of the
aforesaid shall forthwith enter in the notice notice, or where two notices have
the date of its receipt and shall file and keep been given since the entry of both
it with the records of his office, and shall notices, or that the issue of the
forthwith enter the particulars of the notice certificate has been authorized by
in a book to be called "The Marriage licence under section 27.
Notice Book ", which shall be kept in the 27. (1) At any time after the entry of issue of
form E in the First Schedule, and which the notice, and upon the production of a licence.
shall be open at all reasonable times without certified copy of such notice, the District [§ 5, Law 41 of
fee to the inspection of all persons claiming Registrar within whose district such notice 1975.]
to be interested in any entry therein. has been given or the registrar to whom
notice has been given, may issue, subject to
(2) The registrar shall cause a true copy the provisions of subsection (3), a licence
under his hand of the notice of marriage to under his hand substantially in form G in
be posted in some conspicuous place in his the First Schedule authorizing the District
office during twelve successive days after the Registrar or the registrar to whom notice
entry of such notice. has been given or, in any case referred to in
section 28 such other registrar as he may
specify in the licence, to issue the certificate
(3) If the parties to the intended
under section 26, if in the meantime no
marriage shall have given notice to different
lawful impediment to the issue of such
registrars under subsection (2) of section 23, certificate is shown to the satisfaction of
each registrar shall also, upon receipt of the such registrar or if the issue of such
notice, forward a certified copy thereof to certificate has not been forbidden or a
the other registrar, and give a like copy to caveat entered in the manner hereinafter
the party giving such notice. provided.

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 MARRIAGES (GENERAL) [Cap.131
(2) Where the parties to the intended and that the issue of the certificate has been
marriage have given notice to two registrars authorized by the licence of the District
under subsection (2) of section 23, the Registrar or the registrar.
District Registrar within whose district one
or both of such notices have been given or 28. (1) Where, by virtue of any Issue of
Notification under section 5, any area which certificates and
either of the two registrars to whom notice solemnization
has been given, may issue, upon the is situated within any registration division of marriages
production of a certified copy of each such (hereinafter referred to as -the "old upon alteration
division ") becomes, with effect from a date of divisions.
notice, and subject to the provisions of
subsection (3) of this section, a licence to specified in that Notification, a separate
each of the registrars, or, in any case division or a part of any other existing
referred to in section 28, to such other division (hereinafter referred to as the " new
registrar as may be specified therein, and division"), and where, before that date,
such licence shall be substantially in the notice of an intended marriage is given by a
form H in the First Schedule. party resident within that area, but the
certificate under section 26 is not issued
(3) Before the issue of such licence one before that date or the marriage is not
solemnized before that date, then,
of the parties to the intended marriage shall
appear personally before the District notwithstanding anything in this Ordinance,
Registrar or the registrar, or where notice that certificate may be issued, or that
marriage may be solemnized, and any other
has been given to two registrars, before
act required by this Ordinance to be done in
either of those two registrars and make and
subscribe a written declaration that— that connection by a registrar of the old
division may be done, by a registrar of the
old division or of the new division
(a) he or she believes that there is not nominated in that behalf by the District
any impediment of kindred or Registrar within whose district that area is
alliance, or of any other lawful situated; and every such registrar shall
cause, or other lawful hindrance, to comply with such directions as may be given
the said marriage; to him by the District Registrar.

(b) that the consent of any person or (2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall
persons whose consent is required apply in every case where one registration
has been obtained ; and division is amalgamated with another
registration division to form a new division
in like manner as those provisions apply to
(c) that the issue of the certificate has
a case where an area within any registration
not been forbidden, nor any caveat
division becomes a separate division or a
entered, nor any suit is pending in part of any other existing division.
any court to bar or hinder the said
marriage. 29. Every person whose consent to a Forbidding of
marriage is required by law may forbid the issue of
certificate.
(4) Where the declaration is made issue of the registrar's certificate by signing
before the District Registrar it shall bear and subscribing, in the presence of the
stamps to the value of thirty rupees to be registrar and of two credible witnesses, who
supplied by the party making the shall be personally acquainted with the
declaration and where the declaration is person forbidding, and shall be known to
made before the registrar of a division it the registrar or be resident within his
shall be accompanied by a receipt issued by jurisdiction, and by delivering to him a
notice in writing in the form I in the First
the District Registrar in proof of payment.
Schedule, with his or her name, place of
of a sum of thirty rupees.
abode, and the capacity in which he or she
forbids the marriage.
(5) The registrar to whom the licence is
issued shall, upon the receipt thereof, issue 30. (1) Any person may at any time Caveat.
his certificate, and every such certificate before the issue of the certificate enter a
shall state the particulars set forth in the caveat against its issue. Such caveat shall be
notice and the day on which it was entered, in the form J in the First Schedule.

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Cap.131] MARRIAGES (GENERAL)
(2) The caveat shall contain a statement (5) The time taken up in disposing as
of the name and residence of the caveator, aforesaid of the objection to the marriage
the names and residences of the parties to shall not be taken into account in the
whose marriage he objects, and the grounds calculation of the period of three months
on which he objects to the marriage, and under section 26 or section 39.
shall be written on paper bearing a stamp of
ten rupees, and shall be signed in the *33. On the production of the certificate Where may
presence of the registrar and of two credible of the registrar, or, where notice has been marriage be
solemnized.
witnesses (who shall be personally given to two registrars, on the production of
acquainted with the caveator, and shall be a certificate from each of the registrars, to a
known to the registrar or be resident within minister, or to a registrar (to whom either or
his jurisdiction), and shall be delivered to both the parties shall have given notice, or,
the said registrar. in any case referred to in section 28, who
may be nominated in that behalf by the
Proceedings on 31. (1) In the event of a marriage being District Registrar), it shall be lawful for a
marriage being forbidden or of a caveat being entered as marriage to be solemnized between the said
forbidden or
caveat entered. aforesaid, the registrar shall refuse to issue parties—
the certificate, and shall forthwith make
report of the objection to the Judge of the (a) by or in the presence of the minister
Family Court of the district within which in a registered place of worship or
his division is situated. Such report shall be other authorized place, or
in the form K in the First Schedule, and
shall be accompanied by a copy of the (b) by the registrar in his office, station,
notice of marriage and of the notice or other authorized place:
forbidding the marriage or of the caveat
entered. Provided that there be no lawful
impediment to the marriage.
(2) The Judge of the Family Court shall
thereon proceed to make summary inquiry 34. (1) A marriage in a registered place Solemnization
(in which the person forbidding the of worship shall be solemnized by or in the of marriage by
minister.
marriage or entering the caveat shall be presence of the minister of such building or
respondent) into the grounds of objection to a minister thereto authorized by him, with
the marriage, and shall order the certificate open doors, between six o'clock in the
to issue or not to issue as shall appear to morning and six o'clock in the afternoon in
him just, and he shall have power, if it be the presence of two or more credible
proved to his satisfaction in the course of witnesses, and according to the rules,
the inquiry that the marriage was forbidden customs, rites, and ceremonies of the
or caveat entered by such person on church, denomination, or body to which
frivolous or vexatious grounds, to impose such minister belongs.
on him a fine not exceeding one thousand
(2) Immediately after the solemnization
rupees. of a marriage the minister shall enter in
duplicate, in a book to be kept for that
(3) The order of the Judge of the Family purpose, a statement of the particulars of
Court shall be subject to appeal to the the marriage in the form L in the First
Court of Appeal. Schedule. Every such entry shall be
numbered consecutively.
(4) A copy of the order of the Judge of
the Family Court, or of the Court of (3) The statement shall be signed by the
Appeal, certified under the hand of the minister, by the parties to the marriage, and
Judge of the Family Court, shall be by two respectable witnesses who shall have
forwarded by him to the registrar, who shall been present at the solemnization thereof,
thereon issue or refuse to issue the and who shall be personally acquainted with
certificate as such order shall direct. the parties and (in the event of the parties

* Section 32 is omitted, as its operation is confined to marriages between British subjects resident in the United
Kingdom and in Sri Lanka.

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 MARRIAGES ( GENERAL) [Cap. 131
not being known to the minister) also with of whom shall not be a member of thb
the minister, and whose full names, rank or church, denomination, or body to which
profession, and places of residence shall be such minister belongs, nor otherwise than
added to the statement by the minister. according to the rules, customs, rites, and
ceremonies of such church, denomination,
(4) The minister shall see that the or body.
particulars entered in the book regarding
the names, race, civil condition, age, (8) A minister shall refuse to solemnize [§49,ll of
profession or occupation, and residence of a marriage until the parties thereto have 1963.]
the parties to the marriage correspond with paid to him, for transmission to the District
the particulars given in the registrar's Registrar, the fee payable to such Registrar
certificate, and that the parties and for the registration of the marriage.
witnesses sign their names legibly. If any
party or witness signs illegibly, or affixes a 35. (1) A marriage in the presence of Solemnization
the registrar shall, except as hereinafter of marriage by
mark or cross, the minister shall write the registrar.
provided, be solemnized between the parties
name of such party or witness immediately
over such signature or mark, with the words at his office or station with open doors, and
between the hours of six o'clock in the
" This is the signature of . . . . . . . . . " , or
morning and six o'clock in the afternoon,
"This is the mark of . . . . . . . . . . ",
immediately preceding such name. and in the presence of two or more
respectable witnesses, and in the following
(5) The minister shall, within seven days manner:—
from the date of the solemnization of the
marriage, separate from the register book (2) The registrar shall address the
the duplicate statement of the marriage and parties to the following effect :—
transmit the same to the District Registrar "Be it known unto you, A. B.
within whose district the marriage was and C D,. that by the public
solemnized together with stamps of a value reception of each other as man and
[§49,11 of equal to the amount of the fee payable to wife in my presence, and the
1963.] such Registrar for the registration of such subsequent attestation thereof by
marriage. signing your name to that effect in
the registry book, you become
[§ 5, Law 41 of (6) The District Registrar shall, upon legally married to each other,
1975.] receipt of the minister's duplicate statement, although no other rite of a civil or
together with the stamps equal in value to religious nature shall take place;
the amount of the fee payable to such and know ye further that the
registrar for the registration of the marriage, marriage now intended to be
forthwith send to the minister an contracted cannot be dissolved
acknowledgment of the same, and enter or during your lifetime except by a
cause to be entered the particulars thereof valid judgment of divorce, and that
or of the copy prepared under section 37 (2) if either of you before the death of
in triplicate, that is to say, the original, the the other shall contract another
second copy (hereinafter referred to as the marriage before the former
" duplicate"), and a third copy in a marriage is thus legally dissolved,
marriage register book to be kept by him, in you will be guilty of bigamy and be
the form M in the First Schedule, and shall liable to the penalties attached to
certify that the particulars have been that offence ".
obtained from the minister's statement, and
shall carefully preserve the said minister's (3) Each of the parties shall then make
statement until despatched to the Registrar- in the presence of the registrar and witnesses
General as in section 37 provided. The third the following declaration:
copy shall bear an endorsement under the
hand of the District Registrar to the effect " I do solemnly declare that I
that it is issued under section 35A. know not of any lawful impediment
why I, A. B.. may not be joined in
(7) No minister shall be compelled to m a t r i m o n y to C. D., h e r e
solemnize a marriage between persons either present",

VI/215
Cap.131] MARRIA GES ( GENERAL)
and each party shall say to the other: (b) be entered as a marriage in the
register book kept by the minister
" I call upon all persons here under section 34.
present to witness that I, A. B.. do
take thee, C. D., to be my lawful (2) No religious service or ceremony
wedded wife (or husband) ". : shall be read or celebrated at the office or
station of a registrar in connexion with the
(4) If either of the parties be deaf or solemnization of any marriage by the
dumb as well as unable to write, the registrar.
declaration and statement shall be
interpreted to him or her, and his or her 37. (1) The duplicates of entries made Transmission
by the registrar under section 35 shall be to Registrar-
assent obtained by whatever means of General of
communication are commonly used by him separated from the book by him and sent duplicates of
or her, and the registrar shall take special monthly to the District Registrar before the entries,
fifth day of the following month and by the substitution of
care to satisfy himself that the party original and
understands, assents to, and adopts the District Registrar, together with the duplicate
declaration and statement. duplicates of any entries made by him as entries, and
well as duplicates, if any, received from reconstruction
of original and
ministers under sections 34 and 40, to the duplicate
[§5,Law 41 of (5) The registrar shall then enter in Registrar-General, who shall cause the same entries.
1975.] triplicate, that is to say, the original, the to be filed and preserved in his office ; and if
second copy (hereinafter referred to as the no marriage shall have been registered
"duplicate ") and a third copy, a statement during any month, the said registrar shall
of the particulars of the marriage in his certify such fact under his hand, and
marriage register book in the form M in the transmit such certificate in the manner
First Schedule, and shall cause the entry to prescribed in regard to the transmission .of
be signed by the parties and witnesses, and the duplicate entry.
himself sign it in the manner prescribed in
regard to a marriage solemnized by a (2) Where a duplicate of an entry in a [§5, Law 41 of
m i n i s t e r . The third copy shall bear marriage register made under section 34 or 1975.]
an endorsement under the hand of the section 35 or section 40 is lost, damaged,
registrar to the effect that it is issued under has become illegible or is in danger of
section 35A. becoming illegible, the Registrar-General
may, after such inquiry as he may consider
(6) Every such entry shall be numbered necessary, cause such duplicate to be
consecutively. replaced by a copy of the original entry,
certified by the District Registrar or, if the
Copy of 35A. The third copy referred to in the original entry is in the custody of the
registration preceding section shall forthwith, free of registrar or the minister, certified by such
entry to be minister or registrar, as the case may be,
issued free. charge, be delivered or transmitted by post
[§5,Law41 of to the female party to the marriage by the and countersigned by the District Registrar
1975.] District Registrar or the registrar. after verification of the copy with the
original, and shall cause such copy to be
filed and preserved. Every copy so filed and
Addition of 36. (1) Where a minister of any preserved shall, for alt purposes, be deemed
religious Christian church or persuasion reads or
ceremony to to be a duplicate duly filed and preserved in
marriage celebrates in a registered place of worship the office of the Registrar-General, under
solemnized by any marriage service or ceremony at the subsection (1).
registrar. request of the parties to any marriage which
has previously been solemnized by a (3) Where an original of an entry in a [§5, Law 41 of
registrar, such reading or celebration shall marriage register made under section 34 or 1975.]
not— section 35 or section 40 is lost, damaged,
has become illegible or is in danger of
(a) be deemed to supersede or to affect becoming illegible, and the duplicate is
in any way the marriage previously available, the Registrar-General may, after
solemnized as aforesaid , or such inquiry as he may consider necessary,

VI/2I6
 MARRIAGES ( GENERAL) [Cap.131
cause to be substituted therefor a copy of registrar to solemnize the marriage at such
the duplicate certified by him to have been place and hour as the parties may prefer,
made after verification with the duplicate and as may be named in the licence;
and to be a true copy of the duplicate. Such
copy shall replace the aforesaid original of Provided that in every other respect than
the registration entry and shall, for all the place and hour of marriage the
purposes, be deemed to be the original of requirements of this Ordinance shall be fully
the registration entry which was lost, complied with.
damaged, had become illegible or was in
danger of becoming illegible, as the case (3) Upon application by one of the
may be. parties to the proposed marriage or by the
minister by or before whom it is intended to
[§5, Law 41 of (4) Where both the original and the be solemnized to the District Registrar
1975.] duplicate of an entry in a marriage register within whose district the marriage is to be
made under section 34 or section 35 or solemnized, the District Registrar may issue
section 40 are lost, damaged, have become a licence to the minister for the
illegible or are in danger of becoming solemnization of the marriage at such place
illegible, the provisions of section 13 of the and at such hour as the parties may prefer :
Births and Deaths Registration Act shall,
mutatis mutandis, apply to and in relation Provided that in every other respect the
to the substitution of copies of such original requirements of this Ordinance shall be fully
and duplicate. Such copies shall, for all complied with, and provided further that
purposes, be deemed to be the original of the requirements of section 34, subsections
the marriage registration entry and the (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6), shall apply to
duplicate, respectively. marriages solemnized hereunder.

Solemnization 38. (1) In case the female party to an 39. Whenever a marriage shall not be New notice
of marriage by intended marriage belongs to a class of had within three months, except as provided required after
minister or three months.
registrar under people to whose customs it is contrary to in section 31 (5), after the notice thereof
special licence. require their females to appear in public shall have been entered by the registrar, or,
before wedlock, it shall be lawful for the if notices have been given to and entered by
District Registrar, if he is satisfied after such two registrars, after the earlier notice shall
inquiry as he may deem necessary that such have been entered, the notice and any
female party has at all times observed and licence or certificate which may have been
continues to observe the customs of that granted thereupon, and all other
class with regard to such appearance in proceedings thereupon, shall be utterly
public, to issue a licence empowering a void; and no such marriage shall be
registrar to solemnize the marriage at such solemnized or registered until new notice
place and hour as the parties may prefer, shall have been given and certificate thereof
and as may be named in the licence : issued in the prescribed manner.

Provided that the requirements of this 40. (1) It shall be competent for a Death-bed
Ordinance in all other respects than the minister to solemnize without the marriage.
place and hour of marriage shall be fully preliminaries required by this Ordinance, at
complied with. any convenient place, a marriage between
parties of whom one is believed to be on the
(2) In case the female party belongs to a point of death:
class other than that described in the
preceding subsection, or is, in the opinion of Provided that such person is of sound
the District Registrar, not entitled to the mind, memory, and understanding.
benefits of that subsection, it shall be lawful
for the District Registrar, upon the (2) The minister shall immediately enter
application of one of the parties to the a statement of the particulars of the
intended marriage, and which application marriage in the book and in the manner
shall bear a stamp of the value of thirty prescribed by section 34, and shall at the
rupees, to issue a licence empowering a foot of such entry, which shall be made in

VI/217
Cap.131] MARR1A GES (GENERAL)
duplicate, make a certificate signed by best evidence thereof before all courts and
himself and the witnesses to the in all proceedings in which it may be
solemnization, which certificate shall be necessary to give evidence of the marriage,
substantially to this effect—
(2) The copy substituted under section
" We certify that A. B., one of 37 (2) for the lost duplicate entry of a
the parties to the above marriage, is registrar shall for the purposes of this
to the best of our knowledge and section be deemed an original entry made by
belief at the point of death, but of the registrar.
sound mind, memory, and
understanding ". 42. After any marriage shall have been Proof of
registered under this Ordinance it shall not certian matters
be necessary, in support of such marriage, not necessary
(3) Within twenty-four hours of such
to give any proof of the actual dwelling or to validity of
solemnization the minister shall send to the of the period of dwelling of either of the registered
District Registrar the duplicate of such parties previous to the marriage within the marriage.
entry and certificate. division stated in any notice of marriage to
be the place of his or her residence, or of the
(4) The District Registrar shall, upon consent to any marriage having been given
receipt of such duplicate and certificate, by any person whose consent thereto was
forward an acknowledgment of the same to required by law, or that the place or hour of
the minister, and shall cause a copy of the marriage was the place or hour prescribed
same to be posted for twenty-one days in a by this Ordinance, nor shall any evidence be
conspicuous place in his own office and in given to prove the contrary in any suit or
the office of the registrar within whose legal proceedings touching the validity of
division the marriage was solemnized. such marriage.

(5) On the expiry of twenty-one days 43. (1) Where a marriage has been Mode of
from the date of the first posting of the copy heretofore contracted or shall hereafter be supplying
omission and
as aforesaid by the District Registrar, he contracted which, without fault of the correcting
shall enter the marriage in the marriage parties thereto, may have been omitted to be error in
register book kept by him under section 34: registered, or may have been erroneously registration
registered, either of the said parties, or in
the case of his or her death the issue or
Provided that no caveat shall have been
other lawful representative of such party,
lodged or other proceedings taken by way of may apply to the Family Court having
prohibition under sections 29 and 30, and jurisdiction over the division where the
on the registration of such marriage it shall marriage was contracted to have such
be deemed to be valid and effectual for all marriage duly registered, or the erroneous
purposes as if the same had been solemnized registration amended.
by or in the presence of the minister upon a
certificate issued by the proper registrar and (2) The court, after due notice to the
the requirements of section 34, subsections Registrar-General and the registrar or
(2), (3), (4), (5), and (6), had been complied minister before whom the marriage was
with. contracted, and to such other parties as the
court shall deem expedient, and after
(6) In the event of any caveat being hearing such evidence as may be produced
entered or proceedings being taken by way before it or as it may think fit to call, shall,
of prohibition under sections 29 and 30, the if it be satisfied that such marriage has been
District Registrar shall not register the duly contracted and not registered, or not
marriage till the order of the Family Court correctly registered, without fault of the
or of the Court of Appeal is made under parties thereto, order the marriage to be
section 31, correctly registered.

Entry made by 41. (1) The entry made by the registrar (3) The R e g i s t r a r - G e n e r a l s h a l l
registrar in in his marriage register book under sections thereupon cause the marriage to be correctly
marriage
register the 34, 35, and 40 shall constitute the registered according to the directions of the
best evidence registration of the marriage, and shall be the court.
of marriage.

VI/218
 MARRIAGES (GENERAL) [Cap.131
Correction of 44. Any clerical error which may from (2) After due inquiry the court may
clerical errors time to time be discovered in a marriage order and direct that all estate and interest
in registers.
register may, after due inquiry, be corrected in any property accruing to the offending
by any person authorized in that behalf by party by the force of such marriage shall be
the Registrar-General, subject to the rules forfeited, and shall be secured under the
made under the provisions of this direction of the court for the benefit of the
Ordinance. innocent party or of the issue of the
marriage or of any of them, in such manner
Penalty on 45. (a) Any person who shall as the said court shall think fit for the
making false knowingly or wilfully make any purpose of preventing the offending party
declaration or
giving false false declaration or sign any false from deriving any interest in any real or
notice. notice required by this Ordinance personal estate or pecuniary benefit from
for the purpose of procuring the such marriage.
registration of any marriage, and
(3) If both the contracting parties shall
(b) every person who shall forbid the in the judgment of the court be guilty of any
granting by any registrar of a such offence as aforesaid, it shall be lawful
certificate for marriage by falsely for the court to settle and secure such
representing himself or herself to be property or any part thereof immediately
a person whose consent to such for the benefit of the issue of such marriage,
marriage is required by law, subject to such provision for the offending
knowing such representation to be party by way of maintenance or otherwise
false, as the court may think fit.

shall be guilty of the offence of giving false (4) The order of the Family Court shall
evidence under Chapter XI of the Penal be subject to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Code, and be liable to the penalties therein
prescribed, 48. All agreements, settlements, and Settlements
deeds entered into or executed by the parties and agreements
in regard to
Circumstances 46. If both the parties to any marriage to any such marriage in contemplation of, such marriage
in which a shall knowingly and wilfully intermarry or before, or after, or in relation to, such void.
marriage will
be null and under the provisions of this Ordinance in marriage shall be absolutely void, and have
void. any place other than that prescribed by this no force or effect so far as the same shall be
Ordinance, or under a false name or names, inconsistent with the provisions of the
or except in cases of death-bed marriages security and settlement made by the court as
under section 40, without certificate of aforesaid.
notice duly issued, or shall knowingly or
wilfully consent to or acquiesce in the 49. (1) The Registrar-General, District Books to be
solemnization of the marriage by a person Registrars, registrars, and ministers, shall kept by the
Registrar-
who is not authorized to solemnize the keep books for the purposes of this General,
marriage, the marriage of such parties shall Ordinance, in such form as is prescribed by District
be null and void. or under this Ordinance, and shall carefully Registrar, &c.
preserve such books, and shall at no time
Solemnization 47. (1) If any valid marriage shall be allow such books or other documents kept
of marriage by had under this Ordinance by means of any under this Ordinance to remain out of their
means of a
false wilfully false notice, certificate, or possession, except in obedience to an order
document. declaration made by either party to such of a competent court, or except as provided
marriage as to any matter to which a notice, in this Ordinance, or by any rules made
certificate, or declaration is required, it shall thereunder.
be competent for the proper Family Court
to inquire therein, upon the application of (2) Every registrar and every minister of
either of the parties, or, if the marriage shall a registered place of worship shall, when
have been had without the consent of the called upon by the Registrar-General or by
person whose consent was by law required, the District Registrar within whose district
upon the application of such person or of such registrar's division or such registered
the Attorney-General. place of worship is situated, produce for

VI/219
Cap.131] MARRIA GES ( GENERAL)
inspection all books, documents, and papers issued under section 35A shall be received as
kept under this Ordinance which are in his prima facie evidence of the matter to which
possession as such registrar or minister. it relates, without any further or other proof
of such entry.
(3) As each book of registers is
completed by a registrar, he shall forward it, 53. In every case in^which a registrar Surrender of
with all connected books, documents, and shall cease to hold office, all the books, records on
papers, to the District Registrar, who shall registrar
documents, papers, and other articles in his ceasing to hold
preserve them in his office. possession as such registrar shall be office.
delivered by him or by his legal
Forms. 50. (1) The forms in the First Schedule representative as soon as conveniently may
to this Ordinance, or forms resembling the be, with a list thereof to the District
same, shall be used in all cases in which they Registrar who shall carefully arrange and
are applicable, and when so used shall be preserve them in his office, save and except
valid in law. the incomplete books which were in actual
use by the registrar at the time he ceased to
(2) The Minister, by rule made under hold office, and which shall be delivered by
section 7, may alter from time to time all or the District Registrar to the successor in
any of the forms contained in the First office of the registrar.
Schedule to this Ordinance, or in any rule
made thereunder, in such manner as may 54. Notwithstanding anything to the Destruction of
appear to him best for carrying into effect contrary in this Ordinance, any District documents.
this Ordinance, or may prescribe new forms Registrar may cause any of the following
for that purpose. documents, that is to say :—
(3) Every form when altered in pursuance
of this section shall have the same effect as (1) any notice referred to in section 23,
if it had been contained in the First
Schedule to this Ordinance. (2) any marriage notice book referred to
in section 25,
Search of 51. (1) Any person shall be entitled, on
registers and making a written application to the (3) any certificate referred to in section
issue of
certified copies Registrar-General, District Registrar, or 26.
or extracts. registrar, and under such conditions and on
the payment of such fees as shall be (4) any licence or declaration referred to
prescribed by the Minister, to refer to any in section 27,
book or document in the possession of such
Registrar-General, District Registrar, or (5). any application or licence referred to
registrar, and kept under this Ordinance or in section 38,
under any enactment heretofore enacted
relating to the registration of marriages, and which is forwarded or delivered to him in
to demand, on payment of such fees as the accordance with the provisions of this
Minister may prescribe, a certified copy of Ordinance, to be destroyed after a period of
or extract from every entry in such book or ten years from the date on which the
document. document was received by him.
[§5, Law 41 of (2) The applicant shall supply in respect
1975.] of every written application and in respect 55. If any person being, by virtue of his Penalty for
of every certified copy or certified extract office as registrar or otherwise, in possession non-delivery.
thereof a stamp or stamps of such value, as of books, documents, papers, and other
may from time to time be prescribed. articles specified in section 53, shall fail,
neglect, or refuse to deliver them to the
Third copy, 52. Such copy or extract if purporting District Registrar, he shall be guilty of an
certified copy to be made under the hand of the Registrar- offence punishable with simple or rigorous
or extract to be
prima facie General or the District Registrar or an imprisonment for any term not exceeding
evidence. Additional District Registrar or under the two years, or with fine not exceeding one
[§5,Law41 of hand of the registrar or the third copy thousand rupees, or with both.
1975.]

VI/220
 MARRIAGES (GENERAL) [Cap. 131
Penalty for 56. Every person having the custody of 59. Any minister— Offences by
losing or any book or document made under this minister.
injuring a
document. Ordinance, or certified copy of such book or (a) by or before whom, except in the
document or of any part thereof, who shall case of a death-bed marriage under
carelessly lose or injure the same, or section 40, shall be solemnized a
carelessly allow the same to be injured while marriage before the delivery to him
in his keeping, shall be guilty of an offence of the certificate or certificates
punishable with a fine not exceeding one required by this Ordinance ; or
hundred rupees, or with simple or rigorous (b) who shall fail to enter duly in the
imprisonment for a term not exceeding marriage register the statement of a
three months or with both such fine and marriage on the day in which it was
such imprisonment. solemnized by him, or to transmit
within seven days from the date of
the solemnization of the marriage
Penalty for 57. Every person who— the duplicate statement of the
destruction of
documents and marriage to the District Registrar;
for giving false (a) shall, save as provided in section 54, or
certificates. knowingly and wilfully tear, deface,
destroy, or injure any notice, (c) who shall enter in the marriage
certificate, declaration, book, or register any marriage not
any document whatsoever kept solemnized in accordnace with the
under this Ordinance, or under any provisions of this Ordinance; or
enactment previously in force, or
any part of such document or of (d) who shall fail to perform any act
certified copy thereof or of part required of him by this Ordinance;
thereof; or or
(e) who shall perform any act forbidden
(b) shall knowingly and wilfully insert or declared unlawful by this
therein any false entry of any Ordinance,
matter relating to any marriage or
intended marriage; or shall be guilty of an offence punishable by a
fine not exceeding one hundred rupees.
(c) shall sign or issue any false certificate
relating thereto; or 60. (a) Any person who shall Undue
knowingly and wilfully solemnize or solemnization
of marriage
pretend to solemnize a marriage not and issue of
(d) shall certify any writing to be a copy being legally competent to do so, or certificate.
or extract of any such book or between parties not legally
document, knowing such book or
competent to contract the same, or,
document to be false in any
except in case of a death-bed
particular, marriage under section 40, before
the issue of the certificate or
shall be guilty of an offence punishable with certificates required by this
imprisonment, simple or rigorous, for a Ordinance, or in any place or at any
term not exceeding seven years, and with a time not authorized by the
fine not exceeding one thousand rupees. provisions of this Ordinance, or
who shall knowingly and wilfully
solemnize a marriage declared to be
Penalty for 58. Every registrar who without t not valid or to be null and void by
omission to reasonable cause refuses or omits to register this Ordinance; and
register.
a marriage, or to accept or enter a notice of
marriage, or any particulars concerning (b) any registrar who shall knowingly
which information has been tendered to and wilfully issue a certificate
him, and which he ought to accept and before or after the expiration of the
enter, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding prescribed period, or, if the
one hundred rupees. m a r r i a g e s h a l l h a v e been

VI/221
Cap.131] MARRIAGES (GENERAL)
forbidden or a caveat entered under at any place other than his office, there shall
this Ordinance, before the disposal be paid to him by the person requiring him
of such objection by a competent to enter such notice or solemnize such
court; and marriage as expenses incurred by him in
travelling from his residence to such place
(c) any registrar or minister who shall and returning, from such place to his
Knowingly disobey any direction of residence, a sum equal to. the fare that
the law as to the way in which he is would be payable, under any law for the
to conduct himself, intending to time being in force in the area for a motor
cause or knowing it to be likely to cab in respect of a journey of the same
cause injury to any person or to the length and duration, and if there is no such
Government, law for the time being in force in that area,
then a sum calculated at such rate as may be
shall be guilty of an offence, and punishable
with imprisonment, .simple or rigorous, for prescribed.
any term not exceeding two years, or with a
fine not exceeding one thousand rupees, or 63. All proceedings in a Court of Justice Proceedings in
with both. under this Ordinance shall be exempt from courts to be
exempt from
stamp duty unless otherwise specially stamp duty.
Notices, 61. All notices, informations, provided.
informations, declarations, certificates, requisitions,
declarations, 64. In this Ordinance, unless the context Interpretation.
certificates, returns, and other documents required or
&c., how authorized by this Ordinance to be otherwise requires—
transmitted. delivered, sent, or given to or by the
Registrar-General, or a District Registrar, " district" means administrative district;
or a registrar, or a minister, may be sent by
post (according to the prescribed rules of '' District Registrar " in any section (other
the Department of Posts) either in a prepaid than section 8 or section 9) in which
letter or free on State service, and the date any power, duty or function of that
at which they would be delivered to the officer is prescribed or referred to,
person to whom they are sent in''the includes an Additional District
ordinary course of post shall be deemed to Registrar;
be the date at which they were received; and
in proving such receipt it shall be sufficient " marriage" means any marriage, save
to prove that the letter was prepaid, or (if it and except marriages contracted
be a letter that might according to the rules under and by virtue of the.Kandyan
of the Department of Posts be sent free on Marriage Ordinance, 1870,* or the
State service) sent free on State service, and Kandyan Marriage and Divorce
that it was properly addressed and put into Act, and except marriages
the post. contracted between persons
professing Islam;
Fees payable. 62. (1) Subject to the provisions of
[§ 49, 11 of section 34, the fees enumerated in the " minister " means any person ordained or
1963.] set apart for the ministry of the
Second Schedule shall be payable by and to
Christian religion according to the
the persons therein mentioned and for the customs, rules, ceremonies, or rites
duties therein specified. In default of of the church, denomination, or
payment of such fee, the person to whom it body to which such person belongs;
is payable shall, subject to the prescribed
rules, refuse, until payment, to perform the "prescribed" means prescribed by rule
duty for which such fee is payable. made under section 7.
(2) In addition to the fees payable under
subsection (1), whenever a registrar enters a " Registrar-General" includes a Deputy [§§2 and 3,
notice of marriage or solemnizes a marriage Registrar-General Law 23 of
1978.]
* Repealed by Act No. 44 of 1952.
VI/222
Cap.131] MARRIAGES (GENERAL)
FormB

[Section 10 CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY OF BUILDING FOR THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES

(3).]
No. of Certificate :—
In pursuance of the application and declaration made under section 10 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance,
I hereby certify that the building, used as a place of public Christian worship, described below, has been duly
registered for the solemnization of marriages.*

Situation Religious
Denomination on
Description Village or Street and Pattu, Korate, or other District Proprietors or whose behalf the
Division of Town Division of the District Trustees Building is
registered

Witness my hand at.............................this......................day of..................,19....................

Registrar-General.

* In certificates of substitution add : " in lieu of the building registered under certificate N o . . . . . . . . of the
. . . . . . day of . . . . . . . . 19 ...., which is no longer used for the public worship of the congregation on whose behalf
it was registered ".

[Section 12.] Form C

I do hereby declare that the under-mentioned building has ceased to be used for public Christian worship of the
congregation on whose behalf it was registered.

Witness my hand at........................this.................................day of.............,19

Minister, or Proprietor, or Trustee.

Situation

Description Patlu, Korale, District Number and Date Name of Proprietor Religious
Village or Street or other of Certificate or Trustee in whose Denomination on
and Division of Division of of Registry name registered whose behalf
Town the District registered

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 MARRIA GES (GENERAL) [Cap. 131

FormG

LICENCE FOR ISSUE OF REGISTRAR'S CERTIFICATE [Section 27

(1).]

Whereas on the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . day of ............... ,19 ...., notice was given to the •Registrar of
Marriages of the division o f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . f within the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District of which I am the District
Registrar/for which I am an Additional District Registrar, of a marriage intended to be had between . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . and . . . . . . . . . . . therein mentioned, and the said . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . desires to obtain a licence for the
immediate issue of a certificate of such notice, and has made before the District Registrar of the . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
District (or an Additional District Registrar for the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District) the declaration required for that
purpose by subsection (3) of section 27 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance :

Now, therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of the said Ordinance, I do hereby authorize the said registrar to
issue the said certificate at any time hereafter, and within three calendar months of the said . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
day of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . .

Given under my hand this . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . day of ............... ,19......

District Registrar,
or Additional District Registrar.

* Where the notice has been given to the District Registrar or to an Additional District Registrar, substitute " to
the District Registrar of the . . . . . . . . . . . . D i s t r i c t " or "to an Additional District Registrar for the
. . . . . . . . . . -District ", as the case may be.
} Strike out the words which are inapplicable.

FormH

LICENCE FOR ISSUE OF REGISTRAR'S CERTIFICATE [Section 27

(2)-]

Whereas in pursuance of section 23 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance on the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . day of

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . . . notice was given to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Registrar of Marriages of the division of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of a marriage intended to be had between . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . therein
mentioned, and a like notice on the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . day o f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . , was given to . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Registrar of Marriages of the division of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;

And the said . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . desires to obtain a licence for the immediate issue of a certificate, and has made
before the District Registrar of the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District (or an Additional District Registrar for the . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . District) the declaration required for that purpose by subsection (3) of section 27 of the said
Ordinance:

Now, therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of the said Ordinance, I do hereby authorize the Registrar of the
division of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to issue a certificate of the notice given to him at any time hereafter, and within
three calendar months of the said . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . day o f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . .

Given under my hand this ................ day of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 .....

District Registrar,
or Additional District Registrar.

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Cap. 131] MARRIAGES (GENERAL)
Form I

[Section 29.] NOTICE FORBIDDING ISSUE OF CERTIFICATE

To the Registrar of Marriages of.............................

Take notice that I, A. B.. of Colombo, being father (or mpther, or lawfully appointed guardian) of C. D.. of
Colombo, do hereby, under section 29 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance, forbid the issue of a certificate for
Ihe solemnization of the marriage intended to be had between him (or her) and E. F., of Colombo, as the said
C. D. is under iweniy-one years of age, and has not obtained my consent to the said marriage as required by
section 22 of the aforesaid Ordinance.

Dated at..................................,this................................day of........................19

Witnesses:

(Signature)

Form J

[Section 30.] CAVEAT FORBIDDING ISSUE OF CERTIFICATE

To the Registrar of Marriages of the division of Colombo.

I, A. B.. of Colombo, do hereby enter a caveat against the grant of certificate for the marriage intended to be
had between C. D., of Colombo, and E. F., of Colombo, the parties named in the notice entered in the Marriage
Notice Book of the division of Colombo on the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . on the ground (here state ground).

Signed a.....................,this..................................day of....................19..........., in the presence

of:

(1) Witness:.........................
(2) Witness:.......................,
(3) Registrar:............................

A. B.

FormK

[Section 31.] REPORT BY THE REGISTRAR TO THE JUDGE OF THE FAMILY COURT WHEN ISSUE OF CERTIFICATE is FORBIDDEN

To........................... the Judge of the Family Court of..................................

A. B., of Colombo, having entered a caveat (or delivered a notice), of which copy is annexed, forbidding the
issue of the certificate for the marriage intended to be had between C. D., of Colombo, and E. F., of Katutara, the
parties named in the annexed copy of notice duly entered in the)Marriage Notice Book on the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I, G. H; Registrar of Marriages for the division of Colombo, do hereby apply to you for adjudication and decision
thereon, as provided by section 31 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance.

Dated at....................,this..........................day of........................,19.................................

G.H.,
Registrar.
(Hereto annex a certified copy of the notice of the intended marriage and of the notice or caveat forbidding issue
of certificate.)

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Cap.131] MARRIAGES (GENERAL)
This marriage was solemnized between us................................. , in the presence of:

1 Signature of w i t n e s s : . . . . . . . .
2 Name in full, rank or profession, and residence of witness :.............................

1Signature of witness : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2Name in full, rank or profession, and residence of witness :.......................................

Signed before me,.................................................

Registrar or Minister.

» I certify that the above is a true copy of the statement No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . furnished to me under section
34 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance, of a marriage solemnized by or in the presence of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
minister.

Date of entry in District Registrar's Register:...............................................

Registrar.

* To be filled up only when entering a marriage solemnized by or in the presence of a minister.

(Section 62.] SECOND SCHEDULE

[§5, Law 41 of
1975.]
Payable to whom For what duty Payable by whom Amount
Rs. c.

. .
Registrar . . Entering a notice of marriage at his office .Applicant
. . . 0 50
Do. . . Entering a notice of marriage at any other do. . . 2 50
place
Do. . . Issuing certificate of notice of marriage do. . . 0 50
Do. . . For every marriage solemnized in his office Parties to marriage 11 50
Do. . . For every marriage solemnized outside his do. ... 5 00
office under section 38 (1)
.
District Registrar . . For every marriage solemnized outside his do. . . 75 00
office under section 38 (2)
Additional District Registrar . . do. . . do. . . 50 00
. .
Registrar . . do. . . .do.
. 20 00
District Registrar Registration of marriage solemnized in a do. . . 11 50
registered place of public worship

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