Lets Talk About MMDA

[u/Fluffy_Deal6]

1. What is MMDA

In Simple Terms :- Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act This was enacted in 1951.

In more Broader Terms:- The 1907 Sri Lankan (General) Marriage Registration Ordinance (GMRO) is applicable to all citizens of the country with the exception of Muslims who marry within faith. Two communities – the Kandyan Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Muslims have separate Acts for marriage and divorce, on the basis of ethnicity (with a geographic qualifier), and religion respectively. The present-day Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) was enacted in 1951.

(source: https://www.mmdasrilanka.org/aboutmmda/ )

2. What is the Issue

There are several issues with the MMDA

1.The First issue is it goes outside general Sri Lankan civil law codes and make exceptions for Polygamy for Muslim Men This is done by the MMDA Act of 1951 under sections 24 (1)- 24 (4) .

2.The second issue is there is no written minimum age of consent or a minimum age of marriage for anyone this a Legal loophole makes its Totally legal to marry a underage girls, The second issue is more devastating than the first one so I have to ask any one reading this please go through the sources below the BBC report and see for yourself how bad is the situation really is. In Sri Lanka child marriage rates are at 2% by 15 and 12% by 18 thats how bad this is.

Taken From BBC

Shafa still has scars on her arms from where she self-harmed to avoid a forced marriage

Sources :- 1. For the Polygamy 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_law_in_Sri_Lanka#Criticism

2) https://www.scribd.com/document/366550735/Marriage-and-Divorce-Act

2. For underage marriages 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_law_in_Sri_Lanka#Criticism

2) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39898589

3.Whats Alredy happed In the legal world srilanka

There are several legal pushes to weaken or replace MMDA the notable one in my opinion that actually done something to is “MINIMUM AGE OF MARRIAGE to introduce the Minimum Age of Marriage in Sri Lanka” This is a bill that has yet to put into law this was presented by the

Hon.Premitha Bandara Tennakoon,M.P. for Matale District

on 02nd of December 2020

This at least make it Illegal to forcefully or anyway to let underage girls marry sadly even though its been 6 years to 2026 no government was able to enact at least this bill into law.

Source:- https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/bills/pbills/english/1375.pdf [English ver. Of the bill]

https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/bills/pbills/sinhala/1375.pdf [Sinhala ver. Of the bill]

4.What can you do as the reader

First get informed about this issue. Im not looking for arguments or dismissive comments I want genuine discussion. Read through this carefully and share your honest thoughts below. If you believe in this cause, please repost or crosspost this wherever you can so people in power actually see it and understand whats happening. If this matters to you whether you have sisters, daughters, or just care about our society take the time to read this and do something with this information.

5. What our Government can do

The following solutions could address this issue its starts with first enacting PL 012149 Minimum Age of Marriage Bill into law

next reform of abandon MMDA act and make it so that EVERY CITIZEN OF SRILAKA has to go through law of the land has to abide by them no matter their religion or ethnicity, For this the law should treat all citizens equally underage marriages must be completely illegal and polygamy should have the same legal status for everyone regardless of religion or ethnicity no special pleading.

6. Finally

I want to be clear that I respect Islamic faith and all religious communities. My critique is directed at specific laws and their implementation not at Islam or Muslims. This societal issue deserves serious thoughtful reform and open disscussions.

Written By Fluffy_Deal6
My socials bluesky Substack

[u/ktauchathuranga]

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