Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath introduces online service for overseas Sri Lankans to obtain copies of Birth, Marriage, and Death certificates
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, in collaboration with the Registrar General’s Department, has launched a pilot project to assist overseas Sri Lankans in obtaining certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates through Sri Lanka Missions abroad. This system grants Missions access to the e-BMD database (electronic – Birth, Marriage, and Death certificate Database) of the Registrar General’s Department in Sri Lanka.
The pilot project is initially being carried out through the Sri Lanka Embassies / Consulates General in Tokyo (Japan), Kuwait, Doha (Qatar), Milan (Italy), Toronto (Canada), Melbourne (Australia), and Dubai (UAE). Moving forward, the Ministry and the Department will work towards expanding this service to all other Sri Lankan Missions and Posts abroad, ensuring efficient consular services for the Sri Lankan community.
Certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates are essential for various purposes. The significant aspect of the pilot project is that it enables overseas Sri Lankans to obtain the necessary certified copies through Sri Lanka Missions overseas, rather than needing their representatives in Sri Lanka to do so on their behalf from the Office of the Registrar General.
Upon application, authorized Sri Lanka Missions will issue certified copies by retrieving such certificates from the e-BMD database.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath launched the pilot project at the Ministry in the presence of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, Secretary of the Ministry Aruni Ranaraja, Registrar General W.R.A.N.S. Wijayasinghe, and senior officials from the Presidential Secretariat, Registrar General’s Department, and the Ministry.
After virtually connecting with the respective Sri Lanka Missions to launch the project, Minister Herath described it as a significant milestone in the government’s pathway towards a digital Sri Lanka. He stressed the importance of extending national digitalization initiatives to Sri Lankans living abroad, asserting that this project – devised and implemented within two months – demonstrates the government’s strong commitment and endorsement of service digitalization to the public.
Secretary Aruni Ranaraja, in her remarks, echoed the significance of delivering efficient and effective public services. She highlighted that digital platforms are crucial for providing services to the public, emphasizing that through this initiative, the Ministry and Missions will enhance services for overseas Sri Lankans.
Sri Lankan expatriates residing in countries where the pilot project is currently operational can apply for certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates by submitting the necessary application forms available at the respective Missions and Posts.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, in partnership with the Registrar General’s Department, launched a pilot project allowing overseas Sri Lankans to obtain certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates through Sri Lanka Missions abroad. The project initially includes Sri Lanka Embassies/Consulates General in several countries and aims to expand to all other missions abroad. This initiative aims to provide efficient consular services to the Sri Lankan community by allowing them to obtain necessary certificates through their country’s missions overseas. The project was described as a significant step towards digitalization in Sri Lanka, showcasing the government’s commitment to providing digital services to the public.
