Divorce law to be totally scrapped: Justice Minister

24 July 2024 06:08 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 13 Bookmark

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By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Colombo, July 24 (Daily Mirror) - "The government is planning to totally scrap the divorce law and introduce a new law named 'no fault divorce'," Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday.

He told Parliament that the draft bill on the 'no fault divorce' has already been completed.

The Minister said the new Bill will authorize the court to give a ruling on divorce cases without lengthy trials, if it is proved that the marriage is broken beyond reestablishment.

He also said the new Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Bill will also allow the judgements delivered in foreign courts on divorce cases to be accepted in Sri Lankan courts.

The Minister said the Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill which was passed yesterday included provisions to serve notices through electronic means such as through Email and WhatsApp.

He said in divorce cases, practical issues have arisen due to failure of serving notices to respondents as the other faction had migrated.

Comments - 13

Sokrates Wednesday, 24 July 2024 08:26 AM

This was long overdue and is the right step from the Middle Ages into reality.

1 17

Samaranayake Wednesday, 24 July 2024 09:18 AM

He got a family case, so to change the law to overcome it, it's not for the love to people

54 6

Ruwan Wednesday, 24 July 2024 10:20 AM

Good decision even at this late stage. This ancient law was changed in many countries some years ago. Why forcefully make two people live together for the rest of their lives.

0 8

dinesh Wednesday, 24 July 2024 10:40 AM

im sure there is some agenda , otherwise these politicians sat on the laws for so long without upgrading it... now suddenly invigorated ??

2 2

Pathmaranjan Wednesday, 24 July 2024 11:03 AM

This is a good positive move . We should make things easier and abolish lengthy processes and accept foreign judgements.

0 7

A Supporter of Struggling Politicians Wednesday, 24 July 2024 11:07 AM

Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa! Do you mean divorce between married couples or between struggling political parties? It is better to scrap the latter.

0 3

Jeya Wednesday, 24 July 2024 11:37 AM

this is a great move. Many are stuck in abusive marriages unable to move on.

1 6

Dennis Reeves Wednesday, 24 July 2024 12:30 PM

When are you going to be scrapped. Enough man enough, you are going to do politics only for another 3-4 months, why waste time.

2 72

Koswatte Konara Wednesday, 24 July 2024 12:41 PM

We got to know you are going to divorce your wife. Is it true, mind it - it's now a forest fire. Don't act like foolish Mahinananda Aluthgamage and mentally suffer like him. He OfCourse, always behind women, but you!!!

3 67

Mahinda Hulangamuwa Wednesday, 24 July 2024 06:14 PM

He after young boys.....

0 0

JD Wednesday, 24 July 2024 06:49 PM

A much welcome move.

0 2

Subramaniam Sunday, 28 July 2024 12:33 PM

Two points. The first is that no fault divorce is OK but interests of any children affected by this must be protected. It will be an unmitigated disaster if the law does not protect the children who loose out through no fault of their own. The second is the recognition decisions in foreign courts. Lots of divorcing Sri Lankan couples living abroad own property in Sri Lanka and this will hopefully remove the need to institute separate legal proceedings in Sri Lanka. On a lighter note, I remember an instance 40 years ago, when Michael Haseltine a British minister brought in a law to very quickly remove illegal occupiers of land after some Gypsies moved into one of his many properties. Maybe the minister can consider this as well.

0 0

Ruchira Kitsiri Sunday, 28 July 2024 01:10 PM

A good move. I do not know what exactly the divorce law states, neither the old nor the new. But I think divorces should be granted if one of the two parties involved want one. The state has no business in telling and forcing people to be with partners that they do not wish to live with. I doubt if even the new law drafted allows such freedoms. Freedom to divorce should be a basic right.

0 1

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