Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths certificates and issuing of copies

• These documents are registered by the births, marriages and deaths registrars who are appointed to each Registrar Divisions established under 334 Divisional Secretariats situated in Island wide.
• Copies of Certificates are issued by Divisional Secretariats.
• Office Hours
  • District Registrar Division established in the Divisional Secretariat is opened from 8.30 am to 3.45 pm on week days.( Money counter is opened only up to 3.00 pm)
    • Office is not opened for normal duties on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
  • Duty hours of Divisional Registrars are from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.

Registration of a birth occurred at home

1. Should be informed to the Grama Niladhari within 07 days of the birth occurred.
2. For every birth , report prepared as per Form B23 relating to the aforesaid birth , should be sent by the Grama Niladhari to the Births and Deaths Registrar relevant to the place which the birth occurred.
3. The birth is registered by the Registrar who is appointed to the Births and Deaths division which the birth occurred.
4. Duly filled registration - Form CR01 should be submitted to the Births and Deaths Registrar relevant to the birth place. The same registration – Form CR01 can be obtained from the Registrar relevant to the birth place or downloaded from the web-site. 
5. Eligible persons to inform a birth 
   • Father
   • Mother 
   • Persons who were present at the time of the birth of the child 
   • Guardians
6. The document to be submitted by the persons who are eligible to inform a birth
   • Duly filled registration-Form CR01
   • A photocopy of the marriage certificate of the parents (if not so, see No.7)
   • Photocopies of the birth certificates of the parents
   • Original copy and photocopies of National Identity Card       
7. If the parents are unmarried, both of the parents should meet the Births and Deaths Registrar relevant to the place which the birth occurred for enter the information of the father.
8. Birth can be registered free of charge within 03 months from the birth occurred. Birth can be registered after 03 months elapse from the birth and refer the details on past birth registration for that purpose.
9. A copy of the register of birth is issued free of charge to the informer after registration of a birth.
10. Even if an ability to register a birth only on the information of date of birth and place of birth the information known by the mother (although including information less than that occasionally). In that occasion, birth register is issued by completing only the columns which were relevant to information provided .

*When you received the birth certificate, please be kind enough to acknowledge it after going through and checking it.

(Provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance No.17 of 1951 is applicable)

Registration of birth occurred in a hospital (Public or Private)

• A birth is registered by the Registrar of Births and Deaths who is relevant to the place of birth .(List of Births and Deaths Registrars) If the birth occurred in a hospital, it should be informed to the registrar relevant to that place or appointed to the hospital, for registration of the birth.
• Eligible persons to inform a birth
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Persons who were present at the time of the birth of the child, guardians of the child
  • Medical officer of the hospital

• If the parents are unmarried, both of the parents should meet the Births and Deaths Registrar relevant to the hospitalwhich the birth occurred for enter the information of the father.
• Required registration for inform the birth- Form CR 01, can be obtained from Births and Deaths registrar and can be download from the web-site also. 
• The document to be submitted for registration of a birth by the persons who are eligible to inform a birth
  • Duly filled registration - Form CR01
  • Report issued by the hospital to confirm the birth
  • A photocopy of the marriage certificate of the parents
  • Photocopies of the birth certificates of the parents
  • Original copy and photocopies of National Identity Card

• A copy of the register of birth is issued free of charge to the informer

*When you received the birth certificate, please be kind enough to acknowledge it after going through and checking it.

(Provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance No.17 of 1951 is applicable)

Birth Occurred in a Registered Estate

• The birth should be informed within 07 days of a birth occurred, to the superintendent of the Estate (if a superintendent is not available or the superintendent not accept to inform , to the Grama Niladhari who is appointed relevant to the birth place ) by the following persons who are eligible to inform a birth .
• If a superintendent is not available, if the birth is inform to the Grama Niladhari, see the details of registration of a birth occurred at a home.
• Eligible persons to inform a birth
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Persons who were present at the time of the birth of the child
  • Guardians
• The estate birth report is certified by the Superintendent of the Estate and submitted to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat through the District Medical Officer with Form CR01 which forwarded by the persons who register the birth.
• The birth certificate is forwarded to the relevant Estate Superintendent after registration of the birth by the Additional District registrar.
• The birth certificate can be obtained free of charge by the informer from the superintendent of the estate.

*When you received the birth certificate, please be kind enough to acknowledge it after going through and checking it.

(Provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance No.17 of 1951 is applicable)

Foreign Birth Registration in the Relevant Country

• Births of the children who are born in a foreign country begotten to Sri Lankan parents (at least one party should be Sri Lankan) can be registered in foreign countries.
• Birth is registered by the office of Sri Lankan ambassador /High Commissioner of Sri Lanka of the country which the birth occurred.
• The required declaration to inform the birth, can be obtained from the office of the ambassador of Sri Lanka/High Commissioner of Sri Lanka.
• Eligible persons to inform for registration of the birth
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Guardian
• Documents to be forwarded ( original copy and a set of photocopied should be submitted)
  • Duly completed declaration
  • Relevant documents for the confirmation of the birth (Birth certificate issued by the country which the birth occurred or hospital report)
  • A photocopy of the marriage certificate of the parents
  • Photocopies of the birth certificates of the parents
  • Passport and Visa used at the birth of the child
  • If mother and father are citizens of a foreign country, the same certificate.
• The amount prescribed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as government charges should be paid by the valid currency of the relevant country.

Foreign Birth Registration in Sri Lanka

• If a birth could not be registered through the office of the Ambassador /High Commissioner of the relevant country which the birth occurred within the period of one year by paying government fees, the following documents can be submitted to the office of the Ambassador /High Commissioner of the country which the birth occurred to register the same birth as a past birth. The said documents will be forwarded to the central record room at Maligawatta through the relevant office of Ambassador for the approval.
• The documents to be forwarded ( original copy and a set of photocopied should be submitted)
• Documents Required:
  • Duly completed declaration
  • Relevant documents for the confirmation of the birth (Birth certificate issued by the country which the birth occurred or hospital report)
  • Marriage certificate of the parents (Certified copies)
  • Birth certificates of the parents(Certified copies)
  • Passport and Visa used by the mother at the birth of the child
  • If mother and /or father are citizens of a foreign country, the same certificate.

• Similarly, any period before/after one year of the birth of a child occurred, if it is not registered by the relevant office of Ambassador/ High Commissioner of the relevant foreign country, birth can be registered by forwarding to the central record room at Maligawatta.
• The declaration required for inform the birth can be obtained from the Consular Division of Central Record Room at Maligawatta.
• Eligible persons to inform for registration of the birth:
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Guardian

• A receipt received by paying a sum of Rs.13,755.00 as registration fees to the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be forwarded.

*The required information can be obtained from the Deputy Registrar General of the Central Record Room of the Registrar General’s Department .Telephone No. +94112329 773 or +94 112 433 075/ 071 8255066.

Registration of Past Births

• When a birth not registered within three months of a birth occurred, such birth can be registered as a past birth. (See Circular 8/2008)
• For that purpose, a declaration under Section 24 of the Registration of Births ,Marriages and Deaths Act, should be forwarded to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat relevant to the birth occurred.(Approval can be given by the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat to the declaration which is forwarded  for the period from three months to one year.)
• Persons who can present  the declaration
  • One  from the parents
  • Guardian of the child
  • Any person who is interested
• Fees for the declaration is Rs.60.00
• The following documents should be forwarded with the declaration presented within one year from the birth occurred.
  • If parents are married, a certified copy of their marriage certificate.
  • One of the following documents proofing the date of birth and place of birth of the subject( the person relevant to the birth)
    • Hospital birth report or certified copy
    • Grama Niladhari birth report or certified copy (B23)
    • Estate birth report or certified copy
    • A certificate of the Public Health Midwife
• If the above mentioned documents are not available, one of the following documents instead of that,
  • Child Health Development Record  (CHDR)
  • Baptism  certificate
  • Certificate copy of the School Attendance Register / Pupil’s Record Sheet
  • Report of the Estate Welfare Officer
  • Horoscope or Chart prepared nearly to the date of birth.
• If  any of these documents are not available, a declaration included in the known details and an affidavit.
• The following documents should be forwarded with the declaration presented after passing one year from the birth occurred.
  • Certificate as to the birth has not been  registered (Empty result)
  • If parents are married, a certified copy of their marriage certificate.
  • One of the following documents proofing the date of birth and place  of birth of the subject( the person relevant to the birth)
    • Hospital birth report or certified copy
    • Grama Niladhari birth report or certified copy (B23)
    • Estate birth report or certified copy
    • A certificate of the Public Health Midwife
  • Child Health Development Record  (CHDR)
  • Baptism  certificate
  • Certificate copy of the School Attendance Register / Pupil’s Record Sheet
  • Report of the Estate Welfare Officer
  • Horoscope or Chart prepared nearly to the date of birth.
• If  any of these documents are not available, a declaration included in the known details and an affidavit.

Issuance of Probable Age Certificates

• To any person who are unable to provide proper information for registration of a birth certificate (documents for proofing the birth such as hospital birth record/Grama Niladhari Report) can be applied from the Divisional Secretariat relevant to the birth place, for obtaining Probable Age Certificate.
• Required Documents
  • Declaration
  • Results of searching documents
  • Affidavits and records
  • Grama Niladhari Reports
  • Information for proofing the birth
  • The date of birth can be noted in the probable age certificate by forwarding documents for proofing date of birth.
• Seek advice from the Additional District Registrar of the nearest Divisional Secretariat for further details.

Alternation of Information in a Birth Register

• In a birth registration entry, alternations of,
  • Details in column 01 - Date of Birth and Place of Birth
  • When a name has not been included in column 02, to include a name or alternation of a name included in a birth register later.
  • Details in column 03 - Male/Female
  • Details in column 04 - to alternate the details of the father (except race)
  • Details in column 05 - All the details of the mother
  • Details in column 06 - Marital status of the parents
  • Details in column 07 - Details of the Grand Father
  • Details in column 09 - Information of the informer

 Can be made.

• The relevant declaration, should be forwarded to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat relevant to the birth occurred.
• The declaration should be forwarded  by,
  • The person who owned the birth certificate
  • Father or mother
  • Legal guardian
  • A person who are not satisfied with such information mentioned in the birth certificate.
• The fees for the declaration is Rs.60.00
• A certified copy of the birth certificate which is expected to be alternated should be compulsorily annexed to the declaration.
• Written evidences for proofing of the bona fide of the request should be forwarded with it.
• Some written evidences which can be obtained for proofing the bona fide of the request made from the declaration are given below for your convenience.
  • Certified copy of the marriage certificate of the parents
  • Filial nomenclature /fraternal nomenclature
  • Certified copies of the birth certificates of father and mother
  • Certified copy of a birth register of a child who is born after registration of the marriage of the parents.
  • If a child who is not born after registration of a marriage, a certified copy of a birth register of an elder or younger child to the subjected child.
  • Certified copies of the records in hospitals, maternity homes or copies of the documents of the midwife.
  • Extracts of pupil’s record sheet, school attendance register.
  • Copy of the Electoral Register including the names of parents and the subject
  • If the father was deceased, certified copy of his death certificate

Adoption of a Child

• Age of the adopted child should not be more than 14 years
• The requirements to be fulfilled by the applicant
  • The age of the applicant should be more than 25 years
  • The minimum age gap between the applicant who is expecting to adopt the child and the relevant child should be 21 years.
  • The above condition is not relevant if the relevant child is descending from the applicant, if the child descending from a sibling of the applicant or a child of their marital party .
• If the age of the child who is adopting is more than 10 years, the consent of the child is necessary.
• The Order for adoption a child based on the certificates and documents presented is issued by the District Court.
• Based on the same Order(Form No.4) the certificate of adopting child (Form B143) is issued by the Registrar General Department and the birth of the child who is adopting can be re-registered by this.
• The following documents should be submitted to the Head office of the Register General Department for re-registration of the birth.
  • Application for re-registration of the birth(B149)
  • Certified copy of the marriage certificate of the parents
  • Certified copies of the birth certificates of father and mother
  • If a birth certificate has been registered for the child before ,the same certificate or if not registered, the empty result register.
• The application which is forwarded accurately with the above information is forwarded to the Divisional Secretariat belonging the place of birth of the child, by the Register General Department for re-registration of the birth.

Obtaining Copies of Birth Certificates

• Copies of birth certificate should be obtained from the Divisional Secretariat relevant to the birth occurred.
  • If the relevant certificate is in the data system, certified copy therein can be obtained from any Divisional Secretariat near by you.
  • Copies of certificates from 01.01.1960 to 31.12.2020 can be obtained from the system.(It can be confirmed by checking by your nearest Divisional Secretariat whether it is in the eBMD System)
• Required application can be obtained from the Registrar Division of any Divisional Secretariat/ web-site .
• Fees charged
  • When the number of the birth certificate and registered date  is known-charges for one copy Rs.120.00
  • When the number of the birth certificate and registered date is not known, (as required to search the documents  less than two years) - charges for one copy Rs.250.00
    • Copies of certificates can be applied by paying relevant fee to the relevant Divisional Secretariat or forwarding the bank slip which was paid to the Registrar General‘s account No.7039827 of Bank of Ceylon(Battaramulla Branch) and completed application, to the relevant Divisional Secretariat.
    • If you wish to receive the birth certificate via post, it should be forwarded a self-addressed stamped envelope, application and as mentioned above the receipt which fees has paid.
    • If the birth has been registered, the number of copies of the applied relevant birth certificate according to the amount paid will be issued and if the birth has not been registered, it will be informed by Form B38.

**Similarly, there is an ability to apply copies of certificates via online method by reaching the web-site https:// online.ebmd.rgd.gov.lk

Obtaining Translated Copies of Birth Certificates

• Information on the regional offices of the Department which the translators are available to provide this service, can be obtained from the web-site. Translations which can be obtained  from the offices which the translators are available,
  • Sinhala-English
  • English-Sinhala
  • Tamil-English
  • English -Tamil
• The time on which applications are accepted : From 9.00 am to 2.30 pm on working days. (Not opened in Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Applications can be obtained from the offices which the translators are available or web-site. 
• Documents to be forwarded
  • Duly filled application
  • Original copy or a certified copy of the document to be translated obtained from a Divisional Secretariat
  • If it is obtained from post, a self-addressed stamped envelope should be forwarded in addition to the above requirements.
• Translation Charges
  • Rs. 600.00 for one translated copy
  • Can be obtained any quantity of translations
• Time taken : 05 working days
• One day service has not available as yet.