Registration of Births Occurred at Home

• Inform the Grama Niladari within 07 days of the birth is occurred.
• Grama Niladari shall send a report to the registrar of the area.
• The birth is registered by the registrar of births and deaths of the area where birth has occurred.
• Duly filled declaration of birth shall submit to the registrar of births and deaths of the area. Declaration of birth can be obtained from the registrar.
• Persons required to give information,
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Each person present at the birth
  • Person have in charge of the child
• Birth may be register free of charge within a period of 03 months. Birth can be registered after 03 months. Please see the delayed registration of births.
• Certificate of birth is issued to the informant free of charge.

Registration of Births Occurred in a Rural Hospital

• The birth is registered by the Registrar of births and deaths of the area where birth occurred. If the birth has occurred at a Rural Hospital, inform the Registrar of that area for registration of such birth.
• Appropriate persons for informing of a birth for registration
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Person present at the time of occurrence of the birth
  • Medical Officer of the hospital
• Obtain the relevant declaration from the Registrar of births and deaths for informing the birth.
• Documents to be submitted
• Duly perfected declaration
• Hospital report issued in proof of the occurance of the birth
• A birth can be registered free of charge within a period of 03 months.
• A copy of the birth certificate is issued to the informant free of charge.
• Visit the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat at your nearest for further information.

Registration of Births Occurred in a General Hospital

• Inform the Registrar of births and deaths at the General Hospital for registration of birth.
• Appropriate persons for informing of a Birth for registration
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Person present at the time of occurrence of the birth
  • Medical Officer of the Hospital
• Obtain the relevant declaration from the Registrar of births and deaths at the General Hospital for informing the birth.
• Documents to be submitted
  • Duly perfected declaration
  • Hospital report issued in proof of the occurance of the Birth
• A Birth can be registered free of charge within a period of 03 months.
• A copy of the Birth Certificate is issued to the informant free of charge.
• Visit the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat at your nearest for further information.

Registration of Births Occurred in a Private Hospital

• The Birth is registered by the Registrar of births and deaths of the area where birth occurred. If the birth has occurred at a private hospital, inform the Registrar of that area for registration of such birth.
• Appropriate persons for informing of a birth for registration
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Person present at the time of occurrence of the birth
  • Medical Officer of the Hospital
• Obtain the relevant declaration from the Registrar of births and deaths for informing the birth.
• Documents to be submitted
  • Duly perfected declaration
  • Hospital report issued in proof of the occurance of the birth
• A birth can be registered free of charge within a period of 03 months.
• A copy of the birth certificate is issued to the informant free of charge.
• Visit the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat at your nearest for further information.

Registration of Births Occurred in a Registered Estate

• Inform the estate superintendent within 07 days from the birth is occurred.
• Persons required to give information,
  • Father
  • Mother
  • Each person present at the birth
• Estate superintendent will certify the application and send to the Divisional Secretariat through the District Medical Officer.
• The birth is registered by the District Registrar and the certificate of birth will send to the estate superintendent.
• Certificate of birth can obtain from the estate superintendent by the informant free of charge.

Registration of Births Occurred at a Foreign Country

ELIGIBILITY

Registration of birth of children born outside Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents can be registered. At least one of the parent should be a citizen of Sri Lanka /should have dual citizenship at the time of the child’s birth.

The declaration should be submitted within three (3) months of such birth to the relevant Diplomatic/consular officer, If not after three (3) months and within one year the Diplomatic/consular officer should record the reason for the delay and effect the registration.

After a year if the registration is not done it should get the consent of the Registrar General.

PROVISIONS

A birth can be registered under the provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration act (chapter 110 ) and section 7 of the consular functions act no 4 of 1981 and the consular functions (amendment ) act no.18 of 2006.

Submission of documents for registration

If a birth occurs in a foreign country, application for registration of a birth should be forwarded to the relevant Sri Lankan embassy/High Commission.

If it is not been registered and If the parents are living in Sri Lankadeclaration for registration of a birth should be forwarded to the Central Record Room of the Registrar General’s Department, Maligawatte, Colombo 10.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

Documents requesting registration for a birth should be submitted by one of the parent or the guardian.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION OF BIRTH

1. Declaration form filled by the declarant
2. Birth certificate issued by the relevant country/Hospital record of the child.
3. Birth certificates of the father and the mother.
4. Marriage certificate of parents.
5. Passport copies of the parents at the time of the child’s birth.
6. English translation should be produced to the documents in any other foreign languages if needed.

HOURS OF BUSINESS

Central record room is open from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Except for Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Working hours in the relevant Embassies/ High Commissions varies. Visit the relevant embassy/ High Commission web sites.

PROCESS OF CHARGES

£18 (Sterling Pounds) or $25 (US Dollars) or €20 (Euro) should be paid for to the relevant Embassy or High commission for the registration and issuance of a birth certificate.

If the declaration is submitted to the Central Record Room of the Registrar General’s Department, Rs.3900 should be paid to the consular section of the Ministry of External Affairs and hand over the receipt to the Central Record Room for the registration and issuance of a birth certificate.

Return of the certificate

To the person who presented the declaration.

Inquiries

1. Relevant Sri Lankan Embassy/High Commission or Consular Affairs Division of Ministry of External Affairs, Ceylinco building, Janathipathi Mawataha, Colombo 01

         Tel no;+94112446302,+94338812

2. Central Record Room of the Registrar General’s Department, Maligawatta, Colombo 10.

Tel no;+94112329773,+942433075

Registration of a Past Birth

• If a birth has not been registered with 03 months since its occurrence it may be registered.
• Declaration should be produced to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat where birth occurred.
• Persons eligible for this
  • Any party having interest of
  • One of the parents
• Fee chargeable is Rs. 50.00
• Only the following documents should be submitted with the declarations produced within one year since the occurrences of the birth.
  • Marriage certificate of parents if they are married
  • One of following documents in proof of the date and place of birth of the subject.
    • Hospital birth report or certified copy
    • Grama Niladhari birth report or certified copy
    • Estate birth report or certified copy
    • Public Health Officer's certificate
• Following documents should be produced with the declaration produced after one year since occurrence of the birth.
  • Marriage certificate of parents if they are married
  • Nil result sheet
  • One of the following documents indicating date and place of birth of the person
    • Hospital report of certified copy
    • Grama Niladhari report or certified copy
    • Estate birth report or certified copy
    • Copy of the Midwife's birth register
  • In case of non-possession of any of the above documents,
    • Health development record
    • Certificate of baptism
    • Certified copy of the school admission register / pupil's record sheet
    • Estate welfare officer's report
    • Horoscope of the record of time prepared on a proximate date to the day on which the birth occurred
  • If any of these documents are not available, declaration including details having knowledge of and an affidavit.

Issue of Probable Age Certificates

• Certificates of probable age are issued to children under 14 yrs. of age whose birth cannot be registered.
• Certificates of probable age are issued to,
  • Resident children of a children's home approved by the government.
  • Children who are under the guardianship of persons other than children's homes approved by the government
• Documents to be submitted by the resident children of a children's home approved by the government.
  • Affidavit of the matron of the children's home
  • Medical certificate issued by a government medical officer determining the age of the child
  • Other documents containing information of the child (if any)
• Documents to be submitted by the children other than residents of a children's home approved by the government together with the declaration;
  • Affidavit of the guardian
  • Documents in proof of the guardianship of the guardians regarding the child concerned
    • Grama Niladhari certificate or
    • Certificate of the probation and Childcare Service Officer
    • Certificate from the Social Services Department
    • Certificate issued by the Inspector of Police
  • Medical certificate issued by a government medical officer determining the age of the child
  • Health Development Record
  • Copy of the school admission register if the child attends school
• Contact Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat at your nearest for further information.

Alteration of Information in a Birth Register

• In a Birth certificate,
  • Information in cage 01 (Date & place of birth)
  • Information in cage 03 (Sex)
  • Information in cage 05 (Information of mother - if mother's name has been changed after the registration of the birth, it is not possible under this provision)
  • Information in cage 09 (Informant's information) may be altered
• Produce the declaration to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat of the area where birth occurred.
• The declaration should be produced by
  • Owner of the birth certificate
  • Father or Mother
  • Legal guardian
  • A person who is dissatisfied with any of the information appearing in the birth register
• Fee chargeable is Rs. 50.00
• A certified copy of the birth register to be amended should be essentially attached to the declaration.
• Following are some written evidences which may be produced to substantiate the request made in the declaration,
  • Parents' marriage certificate
  • List of children/ brothers and sisters
  • Birth certificate of father/ mother
  • Birth certificate of a child born after the registration of parents' marriage
  • In case there is no child born after the registration of the marriage of parents, birth certificate of a elder or younger child of the subject
  • Certified copies of records available in hospitals, maternity homes or midwife's records
  • Student's record sheet, extract of the school admission register
  • Copy of the electoral register where names of the subject and parents are included
  • If father is deceased, his death certificate

Registration of Adopted Children

• Age of the adoptee child should not be more than 14 years.
• Requirements to be met by the applicant
  • He / She should be more than 25 years of age.
  • The age gap between the applicant and the adoptee child should be at least 21 years.
  • This will not apply if the child concerned is a descendant of the applicant / his brother or sister / any of their married partners.
• Child's consent is required if he / she is over 10 years old
• Spouses (husband and wife) should produce an application
• Order of adoption is issued by the District Court
• This order should be registered at the Registrar General's Department
• Birth of the adoption child can be re-registered
• Following documents should be submitted for re-registration of such birth
  • Application for a re-registration of a birth
  • Parents' certificate of Marriage
  • Parents' certificates Births
  • Certificate of the Adoption
• The application for re-registration of a birth should be produced to the Zonal Office of the Registrar General's Department to which the area where the child is born belongs to.

Obtain a Certified Copy of the Certificate of Birth

• Refer the application to the Divisional Secretariat relevant to the area where the birth occurred.
• Application can obtain from any Divisional Secretariat.
• Fees chargeable
  • Where the date of registration or the no. of the entry is given the fee for one copy of the certificate is Rs. 120.00
  • Where the date of registration or the no. of the entry is not given and a search of registers not exceeding two years is involved fee for one copy of the certificate is Rs. 250.00
• Required fee should pay to the Divisional Secretariat.
• Duly filled application should submit to the Divisional Secretariat.
• If you like to obtain the certificate of birth by post, submit a stamped envelop with the application.
• If the birth is registered a birth certificate will be send and if the birth is not registered a letter to the effect will be send.

Translate Certificate of Birth

• Offices of the Department where service of sworn translators can be received are given below.
• Translations which can be obtained,
  • Sinhala - English
  • Tamil - English
  • English - Sinhala
  • English - Tamil
• Time of receiving applications
  From 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Applications may be obtained from the offices where sworn translators are available.
• Documents to be submitted
  • Duly completed application.
  • Original or certified copy of birth certificate obtained from a Divisional Secretariat of the document to be translated.
  • Stamped envelope if translations are to be received by post.
• Fee for translations
  Rs. 600.00 for one copy payable to the Registrar General's Department