Sri Lanka, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Sri Lanka

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes civil registration records of births, marriages and deaths in Sri Lanka from 1768-1990. The original records are located in various civil registration division offices throughout Sri Lanka.

Reading These Records
These records are in Sinhala, Tamil, English and Dutch. For help reading them see: • 2

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Birth
 * Name of Child
 * Date and Place of Birth
 * Gender
 * Father's name and Mother's maiden name
 * Father's occupation
 * Informant Name and Residence

Marriage
 * Name Groom and Bride
 * Groom's and Bride's age
 * Groom's occupation
 * Groom's and Bride's residence
 * Father's name and occupation
 * Place of marriage

Death
 * Name of Deceased
 * Date and Place of Death
 * Gender
 * Nationality
 * Age of Deceased
 * Occupation
 * Name of Parents
 * Cause of Death
 * Place of Burial
 * Informant Name and Residence

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event
 * Family relationships

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Sri Lanka.
 * Sri Lanka Record Finder
 * Sri Lanka Online Genealogy Records
 * Sri Lanka Civil Registration

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Sri Lanka, Colombo District Dutch Reformed Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.