PM removes obstacles to the registration of marriages between Sri Lankans and foreigners

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has instructed the Registrar General’s Department to immediately suspend the circular issued in 2021 pertaining to the registration of marriages between Sri Lankans and foreign nationals. In a press release, the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs announced that the Prime Minister had issued a directive to ease the difficulties faced in registering marriages. This is due to the said circular. The directive was issued during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Governments yesterday (02). As per the circular issued by the Registrar General's Department, couples must have clearance reports from the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Foreign nationals must provide health certificates, and such marriages are only registered by Additional Registrars. The Prime Minister has advised the Registrar General to issue a revised circular regarding the requirements to register such marriages. Attorney-at-law Thishya Weragoda had filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal seeking a Writ of Certiorari to quash the purported circular issued by the Registrar General.   The Prime Minister issued these directives when the case filed by Thishya Weragoda was pending in the Court of Appeal.