Gunaratnam v. Register General – sllr 2002 volume 2 page 302

In the case between Gunaratnam (petitioner) and the Registrar-General, the court addressed the validity of refusing to register a marriage between a 14‑year‑old and an 18‑year‑old in light of amendments to the Marriage Registration Ordinance. It was determined that such refusal was legally justified, reaffirming the principle that the statutory minimum age for marriage is 18, with no exceptions based on parental consent. The decision relied on the Marriage Registration (Amendment) Act No. 18 of 1995 and Amendment No. 12 of 1997, emphasizing that the legislative intent is to establish an absolute bar to marriage below the age of 18, and writ relief was denied accordingly.

Tilakawardane J. — The amendments to the Marriage Registration Ordinance have established that the minimum age for a v