Family & marriage

පවුල සහ විවාහය · குடும்பமும் திருமணமும்

Marriage, divorce, custody, adoption, inheritance

Situations

• When a parent or spouse won't pay maintenance · දරුවාට හෝ ඔබට නඩත්තු නොදෙන විට · பராமரிப்புப் பணம் தரப்படாவிட்டால்
• You want to register your marriage · ඔබට ඔබේ විවාහය ලියාපදිංචි කිරීමට අවශ්‍යයි · நீங்கள் உங்கள் திருமணத்தைப் பதிவுசெய்ய விரும்புகிறீர்கள்
• You marry under Kandyan or Muslim law · ඔබ උඩරට හෝ මුස්ලිම් නීතිය යටතේ විවාහ වෙනවා · நீங்கள் கண்டிய அல்லது முஸ்லிம் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் திருமணம் செய்கிறீர்கள்
• You want a divorce · ඔබට දික්කසාදයක් අවශ්‍යයි · நீங்கள் விவாகரத்து பெற விரும்புகிறீர்கள்
• Who gets custody of the children · දරුවන්ගේ භාරකාරත්වය කාටද · பிள்ளைகளின் பராமரிப்புரிமை யாருக்கு
• Someone died without a will · කෙනෙක් අන්තිම කැමති පත්‍රයක් නැතිව මිය ගියා · ஒருவர் இறுதிவிருப்பாவணம் இன்றி இறந்துவிட்டார்
• You want to make a will · ඔබට අන්තිම කැමති පත්‍රයක් සෑදීමට අවශ්‍යයි · நீங்கள் இறுதிவிருப்பாவணம் எழுத விரும்புகிறீர்கள்
• You want to adopt a child · ඔබට දරුවෙකු දරුකමට හදා ගැනීමට අවශ්‍යයි · நீங்கள் ஒரு பிள்ளையை மகவேற்க விரும்புகிறீர்கள்

Acts, ordinances and regulations

• Marriage Registration Ordinance (No. 19 of 1907) — General marriage law for everyone except Muslims. Sets age 18, notice, registration and divorce grounds.
• Marriage Registration (Amendment) Act, No. 18 of 1995 — Made 18 years the minimum age for both parties to a general-law marriage.
• Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Act (No. 44 of 1952) — Marriage and divorce for people under Kandyan law. Allows divorce by mutual consent before the District Registrar.
• Kandyan Marriage and Divorce (Amendment) Act, No. 37 of 2022 — Requires parties to appear in person for notice, and makes false declarations an offence.
• Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (No. 13 of 1951) — Marriage, divorce and maintenance for Muslims, handled by Quazi courts. Reform is still under discussion in 2026.
• Civil Procedure Code — Sets the court procedure for divorce, separation, alimony and custody cases in the District Court.
• Maintenance Act, No. 37 of 1999 — Lets a spouse, child or disabled offspring claim maintenance in the Magistrate's Court.
• Adoption of Children Ordinance (No. 24 of 1941) — Rules for adopting a child through a court order, including age limits and consents.
• Matrimonial Rights and Inheritance Ordinance (No. 15 of 1876) — General law on spouses' property and who inherits when someone dies without a will.
• Wills Ordinance and Wills (Amendment) Act, No. 29 of 2022 — Anyone 18 or older may make a will and may leave property to anyone they choose.
• Prevention of Frauds Ordinance (No. 7 of 1840) — A will must be signed before a notary and two witnesses together. A 2022 amendment added a thumbprint.
• Kandyan Law Declaration and Amendment Ordinance, No. 39 of 1938 — Inheritance, gifts and diga/binna marriage rules for people under Kandyan law.
• Thesawalamai (Regulation of 1806) — Customary personal law of Tamils who are permanent inhabitants of the Northern Province.
• Jaffna Matrimonial Rights and Inheritance Ordinance, No. 1 of 1911 — Property and inheritance rules for Tamils governed by Thesawalamai.
• Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, No. 34 of 2005 — Lets a victim of family violence get a protection order from the Magistrate's Court.
• Births and Deaths Registration Act — Rules for registering births and deaths, which are needed for marriage, inheritance and identity.