Recognizing the ‘right’ age of marriage in Sri Lanka: what is appropriate?

Marriage is regarded as one of the most significant social institutions in Sri Lanka. Marriage is deeply rooted in religion and tradition, representing not only the union of two people but also the union of two families. Sri Lanka’s legal framework and social attitudes have, however, changed significantly over the years, particularly regarding the age of marriage.

This analysis examines the legal age, historical context, current trends, and influences of the perceived “right” age of marriage in Sri Lanka.

Under the General Marriage law (amended in 1995), the legal minimum age for both males and females to enter into a legally recognised marriage is 18 years old (LawNet, 1995; lawnet.gov.lk).

The Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) of 1951 is a notable exception: there is no minimum age specified for marriage under this legislation. In certain circumstances, girls married under this Act can be under the age of 12, with the approval of a Quazi (religious judge) (ECPAT Sri Lanka, 2021; ecpat.lk).

Reforms to the MMDA have been suggested to provide equal protection for all communities for years; however, they have not been brought to fruition as of 2024 (World Policy Center, 2023).

Historically, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) established marriage age laws that permitted marriage at younger ages through customary marriage and colonial marriage laws. Even before 1995, some of the personal laws in Sri Lanka permitted girls to marry at the age of 12 with parental consent (Ceylon General Ordinance Records, 1978).

The important Marriage (General) Amendment Act No. 19 of 1995 similarly established a minimum age of 18 years for marriage for both men and women, and the law no longer included parental consent provisions, bringing the legal requirements in line with child protection (Law Faculty of Colombo, 2020; lawfacultaract.com).

Some early marriages, particularly early marriages under the MMDA (Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act), continue to be conducted in some areas within the Eastern and the North-Western provinces (Daily Mirror, 2019; dailymirror.lk).

In research conducted in the Ceylon Journal of Medical Science and by the National Institute of Health, the average age for men is 27 years, and for women it is 24 years (PubMed, 2019).

In Muslim (Moor) communities, the averages are lower – about 25 for men and 21 for women (ResearchGate, 2019).
Moreover, a 2020 study in multiple districts showed over 50% of women aged 21-49 were married by the age of 25 (Sabaragamuwa University Journal, 2020).

Further, in some Muslim-majority districts, such as in Puttalam and Kattankudy, the rates of early marriage (below the age of 18) are reported as high as 42%.

The legal minimum age at which an individual is allowed to marry came in large part to protect minors from coercion, abuse, or undue responsibility when undertaking this individual role. Child marriages often result in educational delays, reduced career possibilities, and health risks associated with giving birth as a minor (UNICEF Sri Lanka, 2023).

Laws establishing the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 aim to ensure that individuals are sufficiently mature, educated, and independent to make informed choices about entering a marriage (World Policy Center, 2023).

Education
Many Sri Lankans are now postponing marriage until they finish some form of advanced education or trade skill training. Education and skills help drive social mobility and financial independence (Department of Census and Statistics, 2021).
Financial Stability
Rising costs of living and securing a stable career, in advance of starting a family, lead to financial preparation for marriage to be an important consideration.
Emotional Maturity
Marriage requires a strong commitment which entails understanding, patience, and the ability to communicate. Emotional maturity does not simply come with years, but with experience and the accumulated wisdom that comes with age.
Family and Cultural Expectations
Family involvement is very much a key consideration for marriage in Sri Lanka, and especially in arranged marriages. Balancing what your family wants and what the people to marry want is very important to the marriage process.
Religion and Customs
Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim people have their own customs related to marriage, and associated timelines to figure in this process
What Is the “Perfect” Age to Marry?
While laws set a certain benchmark, your “perfect” age to marry should depend on your own readiness and your life aspirations. Regarding social and health aspects:
(For Women) 24-28 Years
(For Men) 27-32 Years
This age group seems relatively appropriate, meeting the following criteria: finishing one’s formal education, achieving a reasonable amount, financially ready, along with biological and social issues (World Bank Gender Data, 2022).

Regardless of the strong laws that exist, early marriages appear to continue in some areas due to tradition, financial criteria, or a lack of exposure to alternatives to marriage. As stated by ECPAT Sri Lanka (2021), early marriage is usually associated with arrangements in schools and limited opportunities for women to access paid employment. Child marriage also contributes to the risk of maternal and infant health, including maternal mortality and early pregnancies (WHO, 2022).
How to Determine What Is Best for You
Ask yourself the following questions:
Am I finished with my educational and professional endeavors?
Have I achieved financial independence or stability?
Do I feel emotionally mature to engage in long-term commitments?
Have I discussed expectations and values with my partner?
Does marriage at this time fit with my long-term goals?

Marriage in Sri Lanka remains a deeply cultural and sacred union. The legal age for marriage is 18 years, and the “right” age varies from person to person.
What is most important is not how old you are, but how mentally, emotionally, and financially prepared you are to commit to a lifetime partnership with another individual.
With the gradual rise of social consciousness and gender equality, Sri Lankans are also marrying later, reflecting a growing focus on education, career, and personal choice.

References
General Marriage Ordinance (Amendment), 1995 –LawNet.gov.lk
Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, 1951 – ECPAT Sri Lanka, 2021
World Policy Center, CEDAW Submission. 2023, Worldpolicycenter.org
PubMed, “Average Age of Marriage in Sri Lanka.” 2019, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
ResearchGate, “Marriage by Religion and Ethnicity.”2019, researchgate.net
Sabaragamuwa University Journal, 2020, sab.ac.lk
Daily Mirror, “MMDA Reforms and Child Marriages,” 2019, dailymirror.lk
UNICEF Sri Lanka, 2023, unicef.org/srilanka
WHO Global Health Observatory, 2022, who.int
Sri Lanka Brief, “High Percentage of Muslim Families Marry Off Girls Early,” 2020, srilankabrief.org
Department of Census and Statistics, Household Survey 2021 – statistics.gov.lk