Dec 08, Colombo: National Sangha Confederation, a Buddhist monk organization in Sri Lanka says the new fees imposed by the government for marriage registrations are unfair.

The government increased the marriage registration fees by Rs. 4,000 from 1st January this year to Rs. 5,000 when the registration is carried out away from the office of the registrar.

National Sangha Confederation says that the fee hike is unfair for Sinhala Buddhist community since they mostly carry out the registration of marriages ceremonially away from the office of the registrar.

The secretary of National Sangha Confederation Ven. Passaramule Dayawansa Thero has written to the Registrar General E.M. Gunasekara pointing out that under circular no. 5/2012, the Muslims do not need to pay Rs. 3,500 additional payment to state for registering marriages away from the office of the registrar. He points out that a Muslim pays only Rs. 1,500 for registration of marriage.

National Sangha Confederation argues that this is a racial discrimination and it is unfair to the Sinhala community.

Under the new fee structure, for marriages registering outside the office of the registrar a fee of Rs. 5,000 will be charged instead of Rs. 1,000 charged earlier. Of the amount charged, Rs. 1,500 is paid to the registrar of marriages. However, the marriage registration fee levied at the office of the registrar will remain at Rs. 750.