ABSTRACT
The region of South Asia, being one civilisational space and having more or less one common historical experience, would provide with a better perspective of the problematique. Regarding the personal laws related to marriage and divorce amongst Buddhists, Christians and Hindus, no law has been passed in Bangladesh to influence them. Kandyan law has its origin in the Kandyan kingdom, which covered large parts of Sri Lankan territory barring the coastal areas and the Jaffna peninsula. The word Thesavelamai means 'customs of the land'. The origin of these customs can be traced to those of the Dravidians from the Malabar coast of South India. Taking advantage of martial law, General Ayub Khan subjected Muslim personal law to modification. The most notable step that he took in this direction was the Muslim Family Law Ordinance (MFLO) of 1961.
