Natalie Abeysundere v. Christopher Abeysundere and Another – sllr 1998 volume 1 page 185

In the case between Natalie Abeysundera (Plaintiff) and Christopher Abeysundera (Defendant), the court addressed the legal validity of a second marriage contracted under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act by the accused-respondent, who was already married under the Marriage Registration Ordinance. The primary issue was whether such a second marriage, entered into after conversion to Islam while a valid first marriage existed under the Ordinance, is legally valid given the monogamous intent of the statutory scheme. It was determined that the second marriage was void and the conviction for bigamy under section 362(B) of the Penal Code was upheld. The principles underlying monogamy as expressed in the Marriage Registration Ordinance and reinforced by statutory construction and case law, incl