Registration of Marriages (General)

• It can get married under Registration of Marriages (General) Ordinance, that the parties who are belonging to any other race or religion, the both parties are not Muslims.
• Marriage Notice should be filled in two copies and handed over to the Marriage Registrar of the division by certifying it.(Birth certificate or other document to confirm the name and date of birth)
• Authorized persons to certify the Notices
  • Marriage Registrar of the division
  • A Justice of Peace
  • A Notary Public
  • A Minister
• The requirements to be fulfilled for handing over a marriage notice
  • Requirement of the residency of the parties in the relevant division
    • Parties residing in the division for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
    • Parties are not resided in the same division and  resided in separate divisions, for past 10 days prior to  submit the  marriage notice.
    • If one party out of two parties has not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, the other party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 10 days.  

• If  at least one party out of two parties had not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to  submit the  marriage notice, one party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 04 days.
• Both parties shall  be completed age of 18 years to last birthday.
• They are not prohibited degrees of relationship  to marry
• At that time a valid marriage is not existed
  • For registration of marriages(general),  14 days shall be elapsed from submitting  the marriage notice to the relevant Registrar.
  • If it is necessary to register a marriage before 14 days, a  request can be made from the registrar for making registration  on special license.
  • When marriage notices handed over to the marriage registrars  of  two divisions, marriage can be registered after exchanging notices and issuing of certificates of registrars.
  • If it is required to register the marriage in a place  outside  the marriage registrar’s office, a special permission should be taken and an application of which prescribed fees paid, should be forwarded for that purpose.

** After completing of the above matters, registration of the marriage is done by the registrar before  two witnesses and the third copy of the marriage certificate is handed over to the bride.

• Fees to be paid to the Registrar in registration of marriages

  No.	Matter	To whom to be paid	By whom the payment is made	Amount (Rs.)	The manner of payment
  1	Included a marriage notice in the Registrar’s office or any other place	Registrar	Applicant	120.00	Should be paid in cash
  2	Included a marriage notice in the office of Additional District Registrar or District Registrar or any other place	Additional District Registrar or District Registrar	Applicant	120.00	Should be paid in cash to the government
  3	Issuing of Registrar’s certificate on a marriage notice	Registrar	Marriage parties	120.00	Should be paid in cash
  4	Issuing of Additional District Registrar’s or District Registrar’s certificate on a marriage notice	Additional District Registrar or District Registrar	Marriage parties	120.00	Should be paid in cash to the government
  5	Functioning the marriage in Registrar’s office	Registrar	Marriage parties	900.00	Should be paid in cash
  6	Functioning the marriage in Additional District Registrar’s office or District Registrar’s office	Additional District Registrar or District Registrar	Marriage parties	900.00	Should be paid in cash to the government
  7	Functioning the marriage in a place outside from the Registrar’s office under Sections 38(1) or 38(2)	Registrar	Marriage parties	900.00	Should be paid in cash
  8	Functioning the marriage in a place outside from the Additional District Registrar’s or District Registrar’s office under Sections 38(1) or 38(2)	Additional District Registrar or District Registrar	Marriage parties	900.00	Should be paid in cash to the government
  9	Obtaining a special license under Section 27(3)	To the government	Marriage parties	120.00	Should be paid in cash
  10	Registration of a marriage functioned in a registered religious place	District Registrar	Marriage parties	900.00	Should be paid in cash to the government
  11	Issuing of home license for the registration of marriages in a place outside the Registrar’s office under Section 38 1,2	To the government	Marriage parties	60.00	Should be paid in cash

Marriages by a Christian Minister

• Provision has been made to the marriages of Christians in their Churches.
• Marriage notice should be prepared and certified in two copies and submitted to the marriage registrar of the division (birth certificate or other document to proof name and date of birth)
• Authorized persons to certify the notice
  • Marriage Registrar of the division
  • A Justice of Peace
  • A Notary Public
  • A Minister
• Requirements to be fulfilled for submitting  a marriage notice,
  • Parties should complete the requirement of residence in the relevant division. That is,
    • Parties shall be resided in the division for past 10 days prior to  submit the  marriage notice.
    • Parties are not resided in the same division and  resided in separate divisions, for past 10 days prior to  submit the  marriage notice.
    • If one party out of two parties has not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to  submit the  marriage notice, the other party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 10 days.  
    • If at least one party out of two parties had not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, one party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 04 days.
  • Both parties shall  be completed age of 18 years to last birthday.
  • They are not prohibited degrees of  relationship  to marry
  • At that time a valid marriage is not existed
  • If they are divorced persons, a copy of absolute decree shall be submitted.
  • If married under Marriage law(general) of Sri Lanka and after that  got divorce by a court decision in a foreign country, it is necessary to obtain a decree on divorce  by filing a case before a Court with definite jurisdiction in Sri Lanka.

• Registration fees is Rs.900.00
• “Certificate of the Registrar” (Form B103 Registration) shall be obtained from the Registrar or Additional District Registrar.
• Church marriage can be done by submitting the same certificate of the Registrar to the Minister who is in the church, which is expected to be register the marriage.
• After that, your legal marriage certificate can be obtained by submitting the synod certificate (B112) issued by the minister, to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat which the church is situated.

Process for Registration of Marriage between a Sri Lankan and a Foreigner

Documents under the below mentioned matters shall be forwarded to the Registrar

• Marriage Notice (Prepared and certified in two copies)
• Visa required for entering a foreigner to Sri Lanka, valid passport and its photocopy
• Original copy of the document issued by authorized institution of his/her own country for proofing civil status and legal documents of divorced/ widowed persons for proofing that matter.
• Health declaration for proofing the health condition of the foreigner
• Birth certificate(if it is necessary to proof name and age) and a photocopy
• Permission issued by the Registrar General

Procedure for obtaining Permission issued by the Registrar General

• The following documents should be submitted to the Civil Registration Division of the Department by the relevant parties (only by the persons to be married or their closed relations) before or after the foreigner come to this country.

1. 1. Application
   2. Photocopy of the National Identity Card of the Sri Lankan
   3. Photocopy of the passport of the foreigner
   4. Police report of the foreigner ( obtained within 6 months) so as to proof not an offender of an offence
   5. .Certificate of the civil status of the foreigner (obtained within 6 months) if a person married before, divorce certificate and certificate on civil status)

• All the documents mentioned above should be submitted in 4 copies
• Certificate on civil status should be forwarded by the government institution of the relevant country and  affidavits can be submitted only if the certificate on civil status are not issued by the government institutions of the relevant country .Affidavits should be certified by the government institutions of the relevant country.
• In that case ,if the foreigner married in a foreign country and divorced in a foreign country , the foreign decree on divorce or if married in Sri Lanka and divorced in a foreign country, the foreign divorce decree  and decree on divorce in Sri Lanka should be submitted.
• Registration of marriage should be done by the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat or the Marriage Registrar of the relevant division and if the marriage will be done by the Marriage Registrar, the name of the relevant Registrar and relevant Divisional Secretariat should be mentioned in the application.
• The date, place and relevant district should be stated in the application.
• It takes 14 working days  for obtaining of clearance report from the date which the documents handed over to the head office.
• The permission issued by the Registrar General is valid from the date issued up to 03 months.
• No any fee charged for issuing  this permission.
• The above documents should be submitted to the  relevant Additional district Registrar/Divisional Marriage Registrar when handing over the marriage notice.
• The circular No.18/2021 and dated 18/10/2021 regarding the above matter has been implemented from the date 01/01/2022 and the revised circular therein is implemented from 01/08/2022.

Registration of Marriages under Kandyan Law

• Only Sinhala nationalities who are resided at an area under Kandyan law can be married under Kandyan law.
• The areas affected Kandyan marriage law
  • Central province
  • North central province
  • Uva Province
  • Sabaragumu Province
  • East and West Chuniyachedkulam Korale of Vavunia District of North Peovince and Kilakkumale Korale –South
  • Binthenna Pattu, Weegampattu and Panama Pattu in Batticaloa District of Eastern Province and Kadukkulama Pattu in Trincomalee District .
  • Kurunegala District of North Western Province and Demala Hath Pattu of Puttalam District.

• Only the Marriage Registrars appointed for the above mentioned areas have authority to register marriages under Kandyan Law.
• Requirements to be fulfilled for the registration a marriage under this law.
  • It is required to reside both parties in the relevant area.
  • Parties shall be resided in the division for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
  • Parties are not resided in the same division and resided in separate divisions, for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
  • If one party out of two parties has not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, the other party   shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 10 days.  
  • If at least one party out of two parties had not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, one party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 04 days.
    • Both parties shall be completed age of 18 years to last birthday.
    • They are not prohibited degrees of relationship to marry(According to the Kndyan Marriage Law No.44 of 1952)
    • At that time a valid marriage is not existed
• If the above requirements are completed, submit the marriage notice which has been duly filled and certified to the divisional marriage registrar in two copies.
• The Registrar of the same division has the authority to certify the marriage notice (Birth certificate or other document to proof the name and age)
• Marriage can be registered after 14 days elapsed from submitting marriage notice
• If the marriage to be registered before 14 days of submitting the marriage notice, a special license should be obtained by paying relevant fees.
  • When marriage notices handed over to the marriage registrars of two divisions, marriage can be registered after exchanging notices and issuing of certificates of registrars.
  • If it is required to register the marriage in a place outside the marriage registrar’s office, a special permission should be obtained and an application of which prescribed fees paid, should be forwarded for that purpose.

*After completing of the above matters, registration of the marriage is done by the registrar before two witnesses and the third copy of the marriage certificate is handed over to the bride.

• Fees to be paid to the Registrar in registration of Kandyan marriages

Registration of a Muslim Marriage

• Under Muslim Marriage Divorce Act, a female and a male who are the followers of the Islam in Sri Lanka can be get married.
• Muslim Marriage Registrars have been appointed by the Department for the registration of these marriages .
• Nikah customs are practiced before registration of that marriages
• After Nikah custom,the priest who has done the Nikah custom , the vali of the bride , the bride groom and two other male witnesses should meet the Muslim Registrar and register the marriage.
• However, the marriage could not be registered at that time, the District Registrar of the relevant Divisional Secretariat (Divisional Secretary) has an authority to order the Muslim Registrar for re-registration of the same marriage as a past Muslim marriage.

Foreign Marriage Registration (If the marriage is registered in Sri Lankan Embassies of or Sri Lankan High Commissioner’s Office)

• Ambassador/ High Commissioner or a consular officer has an ability to register a marriage in a foreign country under Consular Activity Act.
• In that case, at least one party shall be a Sri Lankan.
• The relevant marriage can be registered in Sinhala, English or Tamil language.
• A marriage can be registered under general marriage law or Kandyan marriage divorce law or Muslim marriage law. (A Muslim registrar should be available for registration of a marriage under Muslim marriage law)

Correction of an error in General Marriage Certificate

• The relevant request shall be forwarded to the District Court with due authority by the parties of aforesaid marriage for the correction of an error occurred at the registration of the marriage.
• Required documents:
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Documents requested from the Courts
• The request shall be forwarded to the District Court with due authority by the parties through an attorney at law.
• If it is a documentary error, it can be checked whether the accuracy of the duplicate of the marriage certificate by informing the additional district registrar of the divisional secretariat of which the marriage is belonging to.

Correction of an error in Kandyan Marriage Certificate

• Request for the correction of an error in registration of a marriage shall be forwarded to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat of which the place of registration of the marriage is belonging to.
• Required documents:
  • Marriage Certificate
  • The error occurred and an affidavit including accurate information
  • Other documents required to proof matters

Correction of an error in Muslim Marriage Certificate

• Request for the correction of an error in registration of a marriage shall be forwarded to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat of which the place of registration of the marriage is belonging to.
• Required documents:
  • Marriage Certificate
  • The error occurred and an affidavit including accurate information
  • After submitting of other documents required to proof matters , ability to issue order subsequent to carry out formal inquiry by the District Registrar.

Obtaining divorce under General Marriage Law

• This activity is completely a judicial procedure. It is suitable to consult an attorney–at–law and obtain legal advices.

Obtaining Divorce for a Kandyan Marriage

• Applications should be forwarded to,
  • If the applicant is resided in up country area, the District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat belonging to the residential area of the applicant .
  • If the applicant is not resided in up country area, and the respondent is resided  in an up country area , the District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat belonging to the same area or the District Registrar belonging to the Divisional Secretariat in which the marriage has been registered.
  • If the two parties are resided outside from the upcountry area, the District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat belonging to the division of which the marriage registered.
• Obtain the application for the requesting of the divorce from the District Registrar
• Documents to be submitted
  • Duly filled application
  • Kandyan Marriage Certificate
  • If documents available require for  proof the complaint.
• Two parties are summoned for inquiries by the District Registrar
• If the matters mentioned in the application are confirmed, decree divorce declared by the District Registrar. Otherwise divorce is rejected.
  • If the decree declared by the District Registrar is not accepted, an appeal can be forwarded  to the District registrar by the unsatisfied party within 30 days.
• The relevant appeal will be forwarded to the District Court by the District Registrar and future actions will be taken according to the court order.

Obtaining Divorce for a Muslim Marriage

• A request should be forwarded to the Quazi who has been appointed for his area by the Ministry of Justice by the female or the male, to divorce a marriage solemnized under Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act.(Refer Chapter 115 of Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act,No.13 of 1951)

Obtaining of Kandyan Marriage and Divorce Certificate

• If an appeal has not presented in relation to the decree divorce which is declared by the District Registrar, (within 30 days of the decree declared) after completion of the appeal period ,the divorce certificate is given for the female party.
• If an appeal has presented against the decision made by the District Registrar on the divorce ,the divorce certificate is issued by the relevant District Registrar according to the court order.

Obtaining of Muslim Marriage and Divorce Certificate

• A divorce certificate is issued free of charge to the relevant female party at the moment of the divorcing the marriage by the quazi and if another copy is required, a certified copy can be obtained by forwarding application to the divisional secretariat which is belonging to the area of authority of the Quazi.

Obtaining of certified copies of a Marriage Certificate

• The copies of the marriage certificate shall be obtained from the Divisional Secretariat belonging to the place of which the marriage occurred
• If the relevant certificate is included in the data system, a certified copy therein can be obtained from any Divisional Secretariat nearby you as well.
  • Copies of certificates from 01.01.1960 to 01.01.2020 can be obtained from the system.(You can confirm whether it is in the data system by checking from your nearby Divisional Secretariat.)
• The required application can be obtained from the district registrar’s division of any Divisional Secretariat or the web-site of this Department. 
• Fees Charged
  • When the number, registered division and the date registered of the marriage certificate is known - fees for one copy : Rs.120.00.
  • When the number and the date registered of the marriage certificate is not known (As checking of documents less than two years is required) - fees for one copy : Rs.250.00.
• Copies of certificates can be applied by making relevant payments to the Divisional Secretariat or forwarding the bank slip which is received by the Bank of Ceylon (Battaramulla Branch) of the Registrar General’s of which payments made to the account No.7039827 and completed application to the relevant Divisional Secretariat.
• If you wish to receive the marriage certificate via post , it should be forwarded a self-addressed stamped envelope with the application and the receipt which fees has paid as mentioned above
• If the marriage has been registered, the number of copies of the relevant marriage certificate applied will be issued according to the amount paid and if the marriage has not been registered, it is informed by Form B38 on that matter.

*As such facility to apply copies of certificates by entering https://online.ebmd.rgd.gov.lk via online method is available.

Obtaining translated copies of Marriage Certificates

• Information can be obtained from the web site on the regional offices of the Department in which translators are available and can be obtained this service. The offices which the translators are available

• Translations which can be obtained
  • Sinhala-English
  • English-Sinhala
  • Tamil-English
  • English –Tamil

• The time on which applications are accepted : From 9.00 am to 2.30 pm on working days. (Not opened in Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.)
• Applications can be obtained from the offices which the translators are available or downloading from the web site. 
• Documents to be forwarded
  • Duly filled application
  • Original copy or a certified copy of the document to be translated obtained from a Divisional Secretariat
  • If it is obtained from post, a self-addressed stamped envelope of the receiver should be forwarded in addition to the above requirements.
    • Translation Charges
      • Rs. 600.00 for one translated copy
      • Can be obtained any number of translations
• Time taken : 05 working days
• One day service has not available as yet.