SRI LANKA
SRI LANKA
PREVALENCE OF MARRIAGE BY AGE 15
PREVALENCE OF MARRIAGE BY AGE 18
FEMALE
1%
MALE
N/A
10%
-
Year of data:
2016
Source:
DHS 2016
Year of data:
-
Source:
-
LEGAL AGE OF MARRIAGE
18
18
LOWEST PERMITTED AGE OF MARRIAGE DUE TO EXCEPTIONS IN THE LAW
18 or no minimum age
18 or no minimum age
Law(s) which govern marriage and/or child marriage:
General Marriage Registration Ordinance 1995 (amendment), Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act 1954
ABOUT THE LAW AND ANY EXCEPTIONS
In 1995, the General Marriage Registration Ordinance was amended to make the legal age of marriage 18. However, Article 22 of the GMRO, which makes provision for consent for the marriage of minors (below the age of 21), was not repealed. In 1997, an amendment was made to Article 22, changing the age of a minor to 'under the age of 18'. In 2002, a case on child marriage was brought, and the Court of Appeal held that 'Since the prohibited age of marriages has been raised to 18 years of age, the absolute bar to marriage must necessarily override the parental authority to give consent to the marriage of a party.' Therefore the minimum legal age of marriage under the GMRO is deemed to be 18 with no exceptions.
However, for Sri Lankan Muslims (c.10% of the population), marriage is governed by the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. This Act has no minimum age for marriage, although marriage for girls under the age of 12 require the permission of a Sharia court judge (quazi). Despite repeated agreements in the Sri Lankan parliament to amend the act by raising the minimum age to 18, no amendment has yet occurred.
CAN MARRIED OR PREGNANT GIRLS GO TO SCHOOL?
No explicit law prevents or protects the right to education for married, pregnant, or parenting girls.
IS THE COUNTRY A FRAGILE OR CONFLICT-AFFECTED STATE?
No
IS THE COUNTRY ONE OF THE 50 MOST CLIMATE-VULNERABLE STATES?
No
IS IT ONE OF THE 50 COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY?
No
