Death Registration

The Grama Niladhari must be notified within 05 days of the occurrence of the death.

In respect of every death, a report prepared in accordance with Form B24 relating to the said death must be sent by the Grama Niladhari to the Birth and Death Registrar corresponding to the place where the death occurred.

The death is registered by the Birth and Death Registrar corresponding to the place where the death occurred.

The death registration Form CR02 can be obtained from the Registrar. 

Persons qualified to give notice of death,

• The closest relative present at the time of death
• The closest relative in attendance during the last illness
• In the absence of such a relative,
  • A relative of the deceased residing within the Registrar's division where the deceased resided
• In the absence of such a relative,
  • A person present at the time of death
  • The occupier of the building where the death occurred
• In the absence of the above-mentioned persons,
  • The person causing the dead body to be buried, cremated, or otherwise disposing of it

The death can be registered free of charge within 03 months of its occurrence.

It is possible to register a death even after 03 months from its occurrence, and for that, refer to the details on delayed registration of deaths.

A death certificate is issued free of charge to the informant.

** When you receive the said death register, please be kind enough to read, check, and take it with you.

(The provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, No. 17 of 1951 apply.)

If the death occurred in a hospital, the Birth and Death Registrar corresponding to that hospital must be notified to register the death.

The declaration required to give notice of the death (Registration CR02 Form)must be obtained from the Birth and Death Registrar.

Persons qualified to give notice for the registration of death,

• A relative of the deceased
• A person present at the time of death
• The Medical Officer in charge of the hospital

Documents to be submitted,

• Duly completed Registration Form CR02
• The report issued by the hospital to confirm that the death occurred
• A death can be registered free of charge within a period of 03 months

** When you receive the said death register, please be kind enough to read, check, and take it with you.

(The provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, No. 17 of 1951 apply)

The following qualified persons must notify the Estate Superintendent of the death within 24 hours of its occurrence.

Persons qualified to give notice,

• A relative of the deceased
• A person present at the time of death
• The occupier of the building where the death occurred
• The person performing the final rites regarding the death

Documents to be submitted, The Estate Superintendent's death report(Registration Form CR02), in which the Estate Superintendent has recorded and certified the death report, is forwarded to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat through the District Medical Officer.

• Medical reports of the deceased person, if available
• Clinic reports of the deceased person, if available

The Additional District Registrar registers the death and forwards the death certificate to the relevant Estate Superintendent.

The applicant can obtain the death certificate free of charge from the Estate Superintendent's office.

The death of a Sri Lankan or dual citizen at the time of death can be registered abroad.

The death is registered by the Sri Lankan Embassy / High Commission in the country where the death occurred.

The declaration form required to give notice of the death can be obtained from the Sri Lankan Embassy / High Commission.

Persons qualified to give notice for the registration of death,

• By the closest relative of the deceased
• A person who was nearby at the time of death

Documents to be submitted (Originals and a set of photocopies must be submitted),

• Documents required to confirm being a Sri Lankan citizen or a dual citizen (Visa/Dual Citizenship Certificate)
• The passport of the deceased person (valid at the time of death)
• The death certificate issued in that country
• A hospital report stating the cause of death
• A certified copy of the birth certificate of the deceased person from the Divisional Secretariat
• A document proving the relationship of the declarant (Birth or Marriage certificates as required)

The amount prescribed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the government fee must be paid in the valid currency of the relevant country.

If a death cannot be registered through the Embassy/High Commission of the relevant country by paying the government fees within a period of one year, the following documents can be handed over to the Embassy/High Commission in the country where the death occurred, to register it as a delayed death after the expiration of the one-year period. It must be sent by the relevant Embassy to the Consular Division located on the 15th floor of the Suhurupaya building for approval.

Furthermore, if the death has not been registered by an Embassy/High Commission located abroad, the death can be registered by submitting the documents to the Consular Division located on the 15th floor of the Suhurupaya building.

The declaration form required to give notice of the death must be obtained from the Consular Division located on the 15th floor of the Suhurupaya building.

The deceased must be a person who possessed Sri Lankan or dual citizenship.

The spouse, mother, father, a sibling, a child of the deceased, or in the absence of any such person, an interested party can come forward as the declarant to register the death.

Documents to be submitted (Originals and a set of photocopies must be submitted),

• Duly completed declaration form
• Foreign death certificate
• If the cause of death is not mentioned in the death certificate, a report stating the cause of death
• A certified copy of the deceased's birth certificate from the Divisional Secretariat
• The deceased's passport
• The cargo receipt, if the remains were brought to this country
• A document proving the relationship of the declarant (Birth or Marriage certificate as required)
• Transport bills, if final rites are performed in Sri Lanka
• The letter issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (If final rites are performed in Sri Lanka)
• A photocopy of the declarant's National Identity Card
• A 9*4 sized envelope bearing the declarant's address and affixed with prescribed stamps
• The receipt obtained by paying Rs. 8,180/- as the registration fee to the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for that purpose
• Translations of documents in languages other than Sinhala, English, and Tamil

** Information regarding this can be obtained by making inquiries to the address: Assistant Registrar General, Consular Division, Registrar General's Department, 15th Floor, "Suhurupaya", Battaramulla, and also through the following telephone number. Telephone number: +94 112 796 127 or 071 4425143