Wedding of underaged couple busted - couple arrested

An underaged couple was taken into custody in their wedding ceremonial dress by Angulana police this morning during a raid on a reception hall in Saurupura area. 

Police had carried out the raid during investigations of a complaint received by the National Child Protection Authority.

Investigations revealed that the bride was 15 years of age and the groom 19 years and that they had had been in love for a long time. 

However when the girl’s grand father protested, the girl had eloped with the lover and they had lived as husband and wife at a relative’s house in Maggona area. The relatives had intervened and arranged the wedding reception and registration of the marriage.

Police said the Poruwa ceremony had been conducted and the couple were talking to the guests present when the police had walked in.

The girl was admitted to the Colombo South Hospital for medical examination and the young man was to be produced before Moratuwa Magistrate.(Reka Tharangani Fonseka)