Peiris v. Peiris – 1978_79 volume 2 page 055

In Peiris v. Peiris, the court addressed whether grounds for nullity of marriage—specifically lack of consent and duress—are confined to those enumerated in the Marriage Registration Ordinance as prescribed by the Administration of Justice (Amendment) Law, No. 25 of 1975, or if the broader grounds recognized under Roman Dutch Law also apply. The case arose after the District Court dismissed the plaintiff’s action for nullity, interpreting the statutory framework as limiting grounds to those stated in statute. Upon appeal, it was determined that the absence of express statutory exclusion of Roman Dutch Law did not preclude the court’s exercise of full matrimonial jurisdiction. The appellate judgment set aside the District Court’s decision and granted decree nisi to the plaintiff, reaffirmin