Hi Elaine Apostola:
I am a Sri Lanka-born Law-Librarian-in-waiting. Based on your query below,
my guess is that you are looking for the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act
(Sri Lanka), or something similar. Muslims in Sri Lanka, who comprise about
9% to 10% of the population, are legally permitted to have three wives,
THOUGH THIS PRACTICE IS USUALLY PREVALENT ONLY AMONG SOME LOW-INCOME
MUSLIMS.
If you are lucky, you may be able to glean useful information on this topic
from some of the Guides to International Legal Research available in most
University Law Libraries. If you want the Act itself, and you are unable to
locate a copy, I would suggest you contact the Sri Lanka Embassy in
Washington D.C. to see what help they can provide.
The phone # is (202)483-4025. You probably should start with the Counselor
(Information), at the embassy, Mrs. Rajika Jayatilake. Also, the Second
Secretary for Commerce at the embassy, I think, is a Muslim lady. If you
wish to speak to her, please go through the Counselor for Information. The
embassy may be able to at least get the relevant pages faxed, if the costs
are covered.
Please note that having three wives is legal in Sri Lanka only for Muslim
men. A non-muslim Sri Lankan who re-marries before, for instance, a divorce
is final, could be guilty of a crime and the appropriate criminal code will
apply.
Also, a Google-search with "Muslim Marriage Divorce Act Sri Lanka" will
provide some useful links with useful links for background information.
Good Luck.
Aquinas Tambimuttu
Law-Librarian-in-Waiting. M.L.I.S; M.A.
>From: "Apostola, Elaine" <EAPOSTOLA@MODL.COM>
>To: <law-lib@ucdavis.edu>
>Subject: Sri Lanka marriage laws.
>Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 10:35:40 -0400
>
>Good morning, I am trying to locate a copy of the Sri Lanka Marriage
>Registration Ordinance and/or some "Classical Law" text that applies to
>marriage customs and/or regulations in Sri Lanka. We are particularly
>interested in the area that governs polygamy. Any suggestions would be
>deeply appreciated. Elaine
>
>
>Elaine Apostola
>Law Librarian
>Mirick O'Connell
>100 Front Street Suite 1700
>Worcester, MA 01608-1477
>ea@modl.com
>508-860-1520
>Fax 508-983-6230
>
>
>
>
>
>Mirick, O'Connell
>100 Front Street
>Worcester, MA 01608-1477
>(508) 791-8500
>http://www.MirickOConnell.com
>
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