Sri Lanka is set to overhaul its divorce laws by introducing a new 'no fault divorce' system, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe announced yesterday.
Speaking in Parliament, the Minister revealed that the draft bill for this new legislation has been completed.
The proposed 'no fault divorce' law will enable courts to issue rulings on divorce cases without the need for lengthy trials, provided it is established that the marriage is irreparably broken. This significant change aims to streamline the divorce process and reduce the emotional and financial burden on those involved.
Moreover, the Minister highlighted the introduction of the Reciprocal Recognition, Registration, and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Bill. This legislation will allow divorce judgments made in foreign courts to be recognized and enforced in Sri Lankan courts, further simplifying legal proceedings for Sri Lankans living abroad.
Rajapakshe also noted the recent passage of the Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill, which includes provisions for serving legal notices electronically via email and WhatsApp. This amendment addresses practical issues in divorce cases where respondents cannot be served notices due to migration.
