November 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has introduced a new initiative aimed at modernising civil registration services by delivering national birth certificates directly to citizens through the Postal Courier Service.
The pilot programme, launched yesterday (12) at the Gampaha District Secretariat, was inaugurated under the patronage of Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne.
The scheme represents a joint effort between the Department of Registrar General and the Department of Posts to make the distribution of official documents more secure, efficient, and convenient.
As part of the e-Civil Registration Programme, the pilot phase currently applies to birth certificates issued for children born on or after January 01, 2021. Officials said the collaboration will not only speed up document delivery but also reduce the need for in-person visits to government offices, saving time for both citizens and administrators.
In a further step towards digitisation, the system will integrate the birth certificate and national identity card numbering process, ensuring that a child’s ID number corresponds with their birth registration number when they reach 15 years of age. Authorities also plan to simplify certificate formats by removing redundant information to enhance record accuracy and consistency.
The pilot project is being rolled out this month across ten divisional secretariats, including Gampaha, Attanagalla, Dehiwala, Kaduwela, Kalutara, Horana, Panadura, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, and Wellawaya. If successful, the initiative is expected to be expanded island-wide, marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s digital governance efforts.
