The Sinhala Ravaya National Organization has formally written to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, calling for urgent international attention to what it describes as violations of children’s rights under the country’s Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) No. 13 of 1951.
In its letter, the organization argues that Section 23 of the MMDA, combined with the absence of a clear statutory minimum marriage age for Muslims, allows the registration of marriages involving girls under the age of 12 with the approval of a Quazi. It further claims that religiously solemnized but unregistered marriages are still recognized under existing legal interpretations, raising concerns over the legal protection afforded to minors.
The organization asserts that these provisions are inconsistent with Sri Lanka’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which defines a child as anyone under 18 years of age and requires states to protect children from discrimination, sexual exploitation, and abuse. It argues that the current legal framework creates conditions that expose underage girls to early marriage, health risks, loss of education, and long-term social and economic harm.
The letter further states that such practices undermine Sri Lanka’s commitments to global development goals, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5.3, which calls for the elimination of child, early, and forced marriage. It describes the issue as a systemic human rights concern requiring immediate legal and policy reform.
The organization has urged the United Nations to initiate an independent investigation into the prevalence and impact of child marriage under the MMDA, engage with the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure compliance with international child rights obligations, and provide technical support for legal reforms aimed at eliminating discriminatory provisions.
The letter, signed by Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero, President of the Sinhala Ravaya National Organization, and Secretary Madhubhashana Prabath Ranahansa, concludes by requesting acknowledgment from the United Nations office and further updates on any action taken regarding the concerns raised.
