Gracia Catherine v. Wijegunawardene – sllr 1986 volume 2 page 190

In the case between Gracia Catherine (Plaintiff) and Wijegunawardene (Defendant), the court addressed the issue of whether a marriage solemnized according to Roman Catholic Church customs and rites constitutes a valid customary marriage despite the absence of registration under the General Marriages Ordinance. It was held that a marriage performed in accordance with Catholic customs, including a church ceremony and subsequent cohabitation as husband and wife, satisfied the legal requirements for a valid customary marriage. The principle established was that formal registration under the Ordinance is not indispensable where the customary religious rites have been substantially observed. The decision relied on statutory law and precedent, reinforcing that the party seeking to invalidate such