By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has instructed the Registrar General’s Department to immediately cancel 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 has issued the directive to ease the difficulties faced in registering marriages due to circular No.18 of 2021.

The Prime Minister issued these instructions during a meeting held with the officials representing the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Governments on Wednesday (02). 
As per the circular issued by Registrar General’s Department, the couple requires to obtain a clearance report from the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Immigration and Emigration, while foreign nationals require to provide a health report, and such marriages were registered only by the Additional Registrars.

The Prime Minister has advised the Registrar General to issue a new circular regarding the requirements to register such marriages. 

Meanwhile, 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 Mr.Weragoda was pending in the Court of Appeal.