Sri Lanka Genealogy

Asia Sri Lanka

Guide to Sri Lanka ancestry, family history and genealogy parish registers, transcripts, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.

Country Information
Sri Lanka (/sriːˈlɑːŋkə, -ˈlæŋkə/ or Listeni/ʃriː-/;[6][7] śrī laṃkāva, ilaṅkai), known officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island in the northern Indian Ocean off the coast of South East India in South Asia. Until 1972 the country was known as Ceylon (/sɨˈlɒnˌ seɪ-ˌ siː-/), Sri Lanka has maritime borders with India to the northwest and the Maldives to the southwest.

Because of its geographic location and deep harbors Sri Lanka has been of strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to World War II. It's soldiers fought as part of the Indian regiments for the western Cause in that great war.

Sri Lanka is an extremely diverse country, home to many religions, ethnicities and languages. Due to its geographical location and as a trade center, it is the home to Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils, Moors, Indian Tamils, Burghers, Malays, Kaffirs and the aboriginal Vedda.

Sri Lanka is a republic and is governed by a presidential system. The capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, is a suburb of the largest city, Colombo. The legal system is patterned largely on Colonial British Law.

Sri Lanka has been from ancient times an important producer of tea, coffee, gemstones, coconuts, rubber, and the native cinnamon. The island contains tropical forests and diverse landscapes with a high amount of biodiversity. It is also becoming, since the end of the civil war, an important location for beach vacations and diving.

Sri Lanka Clickable Map
Genealogy records are kept on the local level in Sri Lanka. Click on a place below to go to the corresponding Wiki article listing more information.

Jurisdictions
Genealogy records are kept on the local level in Sri Lanka. Click on a place below to go to the corresponding Wiki article listing more information.

Sri Lanka is divided into eight provinces.

• 4

Note: In October 2006, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court rule voided a presidential directive merging the North and Eastern Provinces. Many have defended the merger as a prerequisite for a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict. A parliamentary decision on the issue is pending.

FamilySearch Resources
Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in resourcing your family.
 * Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
 * Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
 * Historical Records
 * Family History Center locator map