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Civil Registration System
Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka
Civil Registration System
Offices and Officers
Offices and Officers
Primary Civil Registration offices
Does the law authorize the local civil registrar to use mobile registration to reach remote or rural areas?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
Mobile units are presently not used in Sri Lanka.
Law Source
Does the law provide the criteria or required qualifications for appointing, designating, or selecting local registrars?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
The Births and Deaths Registration Act mentions grounds for disqualification, and not criteria for qualifications of local registrars (Registrars of Division). A person is disqualified from being a Registrar if they become a member of parliament, provincial council or local authority; or holds any other paid office in the Republic; or is engaged in a profession that would prejudicially affect duties as a Registrar. Circulars set out the criteria of eligibility to become a Registrar of Division, including being a citizen, registered permanent resident in the division, and being no younger than 30 years of age and no older than 50 years of age at the closing of applications.
Does the law require the local civil registration office to transmit registration records to the national civil registration authority on a regular and timely basis?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
Civil registration under the Births and Deaths Registration Act is envisioned as being paper-based. During registration, the informant registers particulars of birth, death and stillbirth with the Registrar of Division. The Registrar of Division makes three copies of this registration entry, with the third copy being the "Registration Certificate". Under Section 11 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the Registrars of Division are required to send second copies of registration entries to the District Registrar "at the end of each fixed period in that behalf by the Registrar General". The District Registrar sends these copies to the Registrar General. This "fixed period" is not defined explicitly in the Act itself but in practice is monthly.
Does the law empower the local civil registrar to make minor corrections and add uncontested information to the civil registration record?
To some extent
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
In cases of birth registrations where the name of the registrant was not specified, or has since been altered, the amendment can only be made on application to District Registrar or Registrar General. The local civil registrar (Registrar of Division) is not empowered to amend or alter the name of registrant under the law. Clerical errors or inadvertent ommissions may be corrected by the Registrar General or any officer authorized by the Registrar General. It is unclear whether the Registrar of Division is explicitly authorized to make these corrections. It appears in practice that this power has in fact been delegated to Registrars of Divisions. However, after a certain point of time, since no records are left with the Registrar, the question of correction of clerical errors, though exercisable by the Registrar in theory, in practice may not be possible, at least after the point of time the records are handed over to the District Registrar Office.
Is the local civil registrar empowered by law to register vital events? If yes, do they have the power to issue certificates of registration?
Yes civil registrar empowered to register vital events and issue certificates
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
All Registrars of Division in Sri Lanka are required and authorized by law to register births, deaths and stillbirths occurring in their jurisdiction. The Registrar of Division is also authorized to issue a certificate ofregistration for free at the time of registration.
Does the law establish or authorize the establishment of secondary civil registration offices under the jurisdiction of the primary civil registration office?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
The Births and Deaths Registration Act does not authorize establishment of secondary registration units.
Law Source
At what level of civil division are primary registration offices located?
Unclear
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
In the three-tiered civil registration system in Sri Lanka, the Registrars of Division are responsible for civil registration at lowest administrative level. The Births and Death Registration Act Section 5, empowers the Minister to establish registration divisions by publication in the Gazette.
Does the law authorize the local civil registrar to use mobile registration to reach remote or rural areas?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
Mobile units are presently not used in Sri Lanka.
Law Source
Does the law provide the criteria or required qualifications for appointing, designating, or selecting local registrars?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
The Births and Deaths Registration Act mentions grounds for disqualification, and not criteria for qualifications of local registrars (Registrars of Division). A person is disqualified from being a Registrar if they become a member of parliament, provincial council or local authority; or holds any other paid office in the Republic; or is engaged in a profession that would prejudicially affect duties as a Registrar. Circulars set out the criteria of eligibility to become a Registrar of Division, including being a citizen, registered permanent resident in the division, and being no younger than 30 years of age and no older than 50 years of age at the closing of applications.
Does the law require the local civil registration office to transmit registration records to the national civil registration authority on a regular and timely basis?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
Civil registration under the Births and Deaths Registration Act is envisioned as being paper-based. During registration, the informant registers particulars of birth, death and stillbirth with the Registrar of Division. The Registrar of Division makes three copies of this registration entry, with the third copy being the "Registration Certificate". Under Section 11 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the Registrars of Division are required to send second copies of registration entries to the District Registrar "at the end of each fixed period in that behalf by the Registrar General". The District Registrar sends these copies to the Registrar General. This "fixed period" is not defined explicitly in the Act itself but in practice is monthly.
Does the law empower the local civil registrar to make minor corrections and add uncontested information to the civil registration record?
To some extent
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
In cases of birth registrations where the name of the registrant was not specified, or has since been altered, the amendment can only be made on application to District Registrar or Registrar General. The local civil registrar (Registrar of Division) is not empowered to amend or alter the name of registrant under the law. Clerical errors or inadvertent ommissions may be corrected by the Registrar General or any officer authorized by the Registrar General. It is unclear whether the Registrar of Division is explicitly authorized to make these corrections. It appears in practice that this power has in fact been delegated to Registrars of Divisions. However, after a certain point of time, since no records are left with the Registrar, the question of correction of clerical errors, though exercisable by the Registrar in theory, in practice may not be possible, at least after the point of time the records are handed over to the District Registrar Office.
Is the local civil registrar empowered by law to register vital events? If yes, do they have the power to issue certificates of registration?
Yes civil registrar empowered to register vital events and issue certificates
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
All Registrars of Division in Sri Lanka are required and authorized by law to register births, deaths and stillbirths occurring in their jurisdiction. The Registrar of Division is also authorized to issue a certificate ofregistration for free at the time of registration.
Does the law establish or authorize the establishment of secondary civil registration offices under the jurisdiction of the primary civil registration office?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
The Births and Deaths Registration Act does not authorize establishment of secondary registration units.
Law Source
At what level of civil division are primary registration offices located?
Unclear
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
In the three-tiered civil registration system in Sri Lanka, the Registrars of Division are responsible for civil registration at lowest administrative level. The Births and Death Registration Act Section 5, empowers the Minister to establish registration divisions by publication in the Gazette.
Does the law authorize the local civil registrar to use mobile registration to reach remote or rural areas?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
Mobile units are presently not used in Sri Lanka.
Law Source
Does the law provide the criteria or required qualifications for appointing, designating, or selecting local registrars?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
The Births and Deaths Registration Act mentions grounds for disqualification, and not criteria for qualifications of local registrars (Registrars of Division). A person is disqualified from being a Registrar if they become a member of parliament, provincial council or local authority; or holds any other paid office in the Republic; or is engaged in a profession that would prejudicially affect duties as a Registrar. Circulars set out the criteria of eligibility to become a Registrar of Division, including being a citizen, registered permanent resident in the division, and being no younger than 30 years of age and no older than 50 years of age at the closing of applications.
Does the law require the local civil registration office to transmit registration records to the national civil registration authority on a regular and timely basis?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
Civil registration under the Births and Deaths Registration Act is envisioned as being paper-based. During registration, the informant registers particulars of birth, death and stillbirth with the Registrar of Division. The Registrar of Division makes three copies of this registration entry, with the third copy being the "Registration Certificate". Under Section 11 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the Registrars of Division are required to send second copies of registration entries to the District Registrar "at the end of each fixed period in that behalf by the Registrar General". The District Registrar sends these copies to the Registrar General. This "fixed period" is not defined explicitly in the Act itself but in practice is monthly.
Does the law empower the local civil registrar to make minor corrections and add uncontested information to the civil registration record?
To some extent
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
In cases of birth registrations where the name of the registrant was not specified, or has since been altered, the amendment can only be made on application to District Registrar or Registrar General. The local civil registrar (Registrar of Division) is not empowered to amend or alter the name of registrant under the law. Clerical errors or inadvertent ommissions may be corrected by the Registrar General or any officer authorized by the Registrar General. It is unclear whether the Registrar of Division is explicitly authorized to make these corrections. It appears in practice that this power has in fact been delegated to Registrars of Divisions. However, after a certain point of time, since no records are left with the Registrar, the question of correction of clerical errors, though exercisable by the Registrar in theory, in practice may not be possible, at least after the point of time the records are handed over to the District Registrar Office.
Is the local civil registrar empowered by law to register vital events? If yes, do they have the power to issue certificates of registration?
Yes civil registrar empowered to register vital events and issue certificates
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
All Registrars of Division in Sri Lanka are required and authorized by law to register births, deaths and stillbirths occurring in their jurisdiction. The Registrar of Division is also authorized to issue a certificate ofregistration for free at the time of registration.
Does the law establish or authorize the establishment of secondary civil registration offices under the jurisdiction of the primary civil registration office?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
The Births and Deaths Registration Act does not authorize establishment of secondary registration units.
Law Source
At what level of civil division are primary registration offices located?
Unclear
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Law Source
Sri Lanka
Legal Analysis
In the three-tiered civil registration system in Sri Lanka, the Registrars of Division are responsible for civil registration at lowest administrative level. The Births and Death Registration Act Section 5, empowers the Minister to establish registration divisions by publication in the Gazette.
