Marriage registrars reject restrictions

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

Colombo’s marriage registrars are up in arms over new restrictions imposed by the District Secretary, limiting the number of registrations to five a day.

District Secretary G.A.J. Sylvester announced the new restrictions when he met registrars of Thimbirigasyaya, Wellampitiya and Sea Street on Tuesday.

Colombo District Registrars Association president Greta Wickremaratne said they strongly condemned the restrictions imposed by D.S. who also warned that if the registrars did not adhere to the new restrictions, they would be removed and new registrars would be appointed.

“The D.S. has no right to appoint new registrars. Only the ministry and the Registrar General’s Department can do that,” she said.

Ms. Wickremaratne said that they charged Rs. 1,000 per registration and there were days no registrations took place.

District Secretary Sylvester said the Ministry of Public Administration and the Registrar General’s Department were aware of the new appointments he was going to make. He said he imposed the restrictions because some registrars were misusing their position.

Some registrars demand for vehicles to travel, request a higher fee, and when they cannot cope with the number of weddings per day, they send their spouses or a close relative representing them,” he said.

Registrar General L. K. Ratnasiri said he was not aware of the District Secretary’s meeting with the registrars. He said the DS had no authority to appoint new registrars or impose restrictions.

He said he would take necessary action if the registrars through their association sent a letter to him, stating their grievances.