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Civil Registration System
Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka
Civil Registration System
Powers and Responsibilities of National Civil Registration Agency
Powers and Responsibilities of National Civil Registration Agency
Uniform processes
Does the law provide for a uniform process to complete civil registrations across the country?
To some extent
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
To improve registration of vital events, legislation should provide for standardized and consistent processes for the notification of vital events throughout a country's jurisdiction.
Section 2 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act empowers the Registrar General with the general control and superintendence of all births, deaths, and stillbirths registration in Sri Lanka. The provisions in the Act and implementing regulations provide for uniform procedures for vital event registration across the country, with the exception of vital events that occur on estates, which have their own procedures.
Does the law establish the head of the civil registration agency and clearly set out the powers and responsibilities of that position?
Registrar General. Powers established in the law.
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The head of the civil registration agency (often called the national registrar or registrar general) should be clearly set out in the law and should have sufficient power and authority to ensure that the civil registration system functions efficiently and effectively. These powers and responsibilities should include oversight and implementation of the civil registration system; participation in drafting of rules, regulations and instructions to promote uniform practice; delegation of registration responsibilities and powers to other officials; management and inspection of registration offices; conducting quality assurance monitoring and addressing areas of concern; assessing degree of coverage and establishing boundaries for local offices; hiring, management, and training of personnel; management of physical resources and technology; resolution of incidents and appeals; promoting the registration requirements to the public; receiving and compiling data; exchanging information with other agencies; and safekeeping records and archives.
The Registrar General is appointed head of the civil registration authority in Sri Lanka. Powers of the Registrar General include registration of births, deaths and stillbirths.
Does the national registrar have the power to delegate powers and responsibilites?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The law on civil registration should clearly define who may delegate authority, which duties may be delegated and to whom. It is important that the law identify the powers of delegation for the head of an agency, and clearly identify the persons to whom the head of civil registration agency can delegate powers and responsibilities. For example, the head of an agency might be authorized to delegate duties to the deputy head of the agency or to local registrars.
The Registrar General can delegate any power, duty or function conferred by the Births and Deaths Registration Act, upon Assistant Registrar General and District Registrars.
