One Registry, Endless Potential: How Sri Lanka is Modernizing Civil Registration

For millions in Sri Lanka, accessing basic services—obtaining the passport, enrolling a child in school, receiving social protection—starts with a simple yet essential step: having the right documents. But for too many, the civil registration system, which provides such crucial documents, is slow, outdated, and full of roadblocks.  

While Sri Lanka registers most births, the process is paper-based, prone to delays, and leaves vulnerable communities—including rural families, persons with disabilities, and the urban poor—at risk of exclusion. Manual documentation of births and deaths often leads to bottlenecks, leaving many waiting months for critical records. 

Recognizing these challenges, Sri Lanka has embarked on a transformative journey to modernize its civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system. Led by the Government of Sri Lanka with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and funding through the UN Sri Lanka SDG Fund, the country is aligning its CRVS modernization with its broader digital transformation agenda. Titled ‘OneRegistry’, this initiative is transforming civil registration to make it faster, more accessible, and fully digital.

Making civil registration fast, simple and accessible for all

A digital civil registration system means more than just administrative efficiency. For parents, it eliminates long waits for birth certificates. For doctors and midwives, t it provides faster access to birth and death records, enhancing public health planning and emergency response. And for marginalized communities, it removes barriers to essential services like healthcare, pensions, and government assistance. 

The launch of ‘OneRegistry’ was a major milestone, bringing together government leaders, UN agencies, development agencies, private sector and civil society organizations. Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya highlighted the transformative potential of the programme, emphasizing its role in enhancing public administration and driving the government’s digital agenda.  

The initiative focuses on three key areas: 

• Going digital: Replacing paper records with a digital system that speeds up registration and reduces errors.
• Connecting systems: Linking civil registration with key government databases to make services smoother and more reliable. The initiative will ensure a functioning interoperable CRVS database with at least 03 government institutions.
• Empowering communities: Making sure people know their rights and how to use the new system, particularly in underserved areas. 

Speaking to the role of the Registrar General’s Department, Ms. Lakshika Ganepola elaborated, "These efforts complement national digital initiatives, such as the e-NIC and Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) projects, advancing the country’s vision of a unified and digitally inclusive society. By streamlining registration processes and improving service delivery, the initiative is set to benefit nearly 1.3 million people, including vulnerable groups."

Partnership across sectors

Transforming a country’s civil registration system is no easy feat—it requires coordination across multiple sectors, from health and education to governance and technology. To ensure this large-scale transformation benefits everyone, governments must unite ministries, civil society, the private sector, and development partners in a shared effort. 

At the launch of the One Registry initiative, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, highlighted how the UN is leading efforts to create a platform where diverse stakeholders can collaborate effectively: 

“By bringing together the right expertise and resources and ensuring joint efforts align with national priorities, we are building bridges between sectors to help drive a transformation that is inclusive, efficient, and sustainable”

A foundation for an inclusive future

At its heart, the ‘OneRegistry’ initiative is about ensuring no one is left behind as Sri Lanka progresses. By providing every individual with a recognized legal identity, ‘OneRegistry’ empowers marginalized communities, removes barriers to essential services, and fosters social inclusion. This means greater access to education, healthcare, and social protection for all Sri Lankans—giving people the tools they need to build a better future. 

Learn more about the Joint SDG Fund here. For more information about the UN's work in Sri Lanka, visit srilanka.un.org.