Section No :  
1980 Revised version
MATRIMONIAL RIGHTS AND INHERITANCE
Marginal Notes
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Matrimonial Rights and Inheritance Ordinance.
2. Where persons of different races or nationalities intermarry, laws to which the husband is subject to prevail. Ordinance not otherwise to Kandyans or Muslims or Tamils under the Tesawalamai.
3. Interpretation.
4. This Ordinance not to affect rights acquired under marriages solemnized before the proclamation of this Ordinance.
5. Rights of husband and wife domiciled or resident in Sri Lanka in respect of movable property to be governed by this Ordinance.
6. Rights of husband and wife in respect of immovable property situate in Sri Lanka to be governed by this Ordinance.
7. Community of goods not a consequence of marriage.
8. Immovable property of the wife.
9. Wages and earnings of the wife.
10. Wife's jewels, implements of trade and agriculture, to form part of her separate estate.
11. When husband's consent may be dispensed with.
12. Power of spouses to settle or gift property during marriage.
13. Burden of proof on the wife.
14. Disputes between husband and wife as to wife's estate to be settled summarily by District Court.
15. Wife may effect a policy of insurance.
16. Husband may insure his life for the benefit of his family.
17. All other movable property of the wife to vest in the husband.
18. Wife with separate property liable for the maintenance of her children.
19. Article 6 of Placaat of Charles V of 1540 declared to have no operation in Sri Lanka.
20. Following sections to whom applicable.
21. Inheritance to immovable property in Sri Lanka to be governed by this Ordinance.
22. Surviving spouse inherits one-half.
23. Order of devolution of property.
24. Preferential right of children.
25. When descendants fail.
26. In case of parents failing.
27. Division in case of half-brothers and sisters.
28. When full brothers and their children fail.
29. In case there are only half-brothers on one side.
30. Where all who succeed are equally near in degree.
31. All persons above enumerated failing.
32. All persons above enumerated failing, surviving spouse takes.
33. Illegitimate children.
34. On failure of heirs escheats to State.
35. Collation by children or grand -children.
36. The rules of the Roman-Dutch law as it prevailed in North Holland to be followed where Ordinance is silent.