Navigating the complexities of global jurisprudence.

The Marriage Registration Ordinance (the “Act”) governs the registration, solemnization, and dissolution of marriages contracted under its provisions. It does not extend to marriages governed by Muslim law. Validity of Marriage A marriage under the Act is valid only where certain statutory conditions are satisfied. Both parties must have reached eighteen years of age. A marriage is void if the parties are related within the prohibited degrees, such as relationships of direct descent or betwee

Introduction Sri Lanka continues to position itself as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the South Asia. Sri Lanka offers investors a strategic geographical location, a tried and tested legal framework, and one that protects foreign investment. There are a range of regulatory and legal requirements that apply to foreign investors, and this article provides an overview of the saliant ones. Constitutional and Treaty Protection Sri Lanka is a party to numerous Bil

The absence of a clear legal framework to recognize, register, and enforce foreign divorce judgments has been a longstanding lacuna in Sri Lankan law. This issue was largely unaddressed until the Court of Appeal, in a landmark decision delivered in 2023, proceeded to specify criteria that should be taken into consideration. While this case paved the way for a foreign decree of divorce to be valid and effectual in Sri Lanka, it also emphasized the pressing need for legislative reform in this area

What is a work place investigation or domestic inquiry ? A workplace investigation or domestic inquiry (Work Place Investigation), as it is commonly referred to in Sri Lanka, refers to the internal process an employer undertakes to examine allegations of employee misconduct or improper workplace behaviour. Although Sri Lankan law does not mandate a specific procedure for workplace investigations, employers are expected to follow a fair, transparent, and reasonable process to support any subsequ

Learn how to set up a business in Sri Lanka, including its registration, taxation, and foreign investment rules under the Sri Lankan Companies Act, Foreign Exchange Act, and the Board of Investment (BOI) framework Starting a business in Sri Lanka requires an understanding of the available alternative business structures and how such structures can be established. It is important to understand the ongoing obligations imposed under Sri Lanka law, particularly with respect to tax and labor laws. F

The Supreme Court (SC) in a landmark judgment delivered on 8th July 2025 in SC/CHC/Appeal No. 24/2008, has revisited and clarified the foundational legal concepts of suretyship and indemnity under Sri, pertaining to personal guarantees. In this case Their Lordships have re-affirmed the stance of the Commercial High Court judgment by which the two sureties/directors were made liable, in their capacity as sureties/guarantors, for the repayment of two loans granted to M/s Seneviratne Trading Compa

Sri Lanka’s legal and commercial conscience is stirring. Concerns about integrity, public trust and corporate governance have moved from the margins to the centre, especially as Sri Lanka was ranked one hundred and twenty-first out of one hundred and eighty in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2024. In that setting, corporate criminal liability is no longer an abstract classroom doctrine, but a live question for boards, state owned enterprises and private sector conglom

Summary on the Grounds, Deadlines and Lis Pendens Many Donors later face situations where the Donee’s conduct forces them to reconsider a gift they once believed to be final. Although an irrevocable deed of gift is generally intended to be permanent, Sri Lankan law recognizes specific circumstances—cases of gross ingratitude—where a Donor may seek legal relief. The Article examines the legal principles governing the revocation of irrevocable deeds of gift in Sri Lanka and how these have evolved

The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025 (“Act”), was certified by the Speaker on 03rd September 2025. Its primary aim is to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) and repeal existing legislation such as the Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance, Gaming Ordinance, and the Casino Business (Regulation) Act, No. 17 of 2010. A person is not permitted to carry on any gambling other than the types of gambling authorized under the provisions of this Act. The Acts provisions apply t

Introduction - A Crossroads for Corporate Sri Lanka Every economy faces a moment when survival alone is not enough. Sri Lanka has reached that moment emphasising the need for Corporate Restructuring. The past few years have tested boardrooms and balance sheets, and many of us in practice have seen the same scene repeated: clients arriving not with expansion plans but with questions about how to hold the line. From that turbulence a new conversation has emerged. Companies are no longer asking