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Disclaimer / Limitations
This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff in consultation with in-country lawyers and/or CRVS legal experts. All efforts were made to ensure the accuracy of the legal analysis, however, if you consider there to be any discrepancies or if there have been changes in the law of the country since our staff last updated the legal analysis, we welcome any additional information or insights. Please contact us via this form.
Birth Registration
Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka
Birth Registration
Universal Coverage and Definition
Universal Coverage and Definition
Universal Coverage and Definition
Does the law provide a clear definition of live birth? If yes, does the definition accord with international guidelines?
Yes live birth is defined by law and accords with international guidelines
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
The law defines birth as "...a product of conception which, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, after complete expulsion or extraction from his mother, breaths or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached"
In cases where person qualified to make declaration to register birth is outside Sri Lanka, the person is empowered as declarant to submit declaration of birth before any consular or diplomatic representative of Sri Lanka.
Is birth registration or reporting available for children born to citizens residing abroad?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
It is the duty of every registrar to inform himself carefully of every birth occurring in his division, and to register accurately in the birth register, all particulars set out in Form A (Birth Registration). The particulars set out in Form A are almost identical to forms in practice (Form B1), except the father's rank/profession is no longer required information. There is no discrimination in the law and birth registration is available for all births in each division of Sri Lanka.
