How to Register a Death in Sri Lanka

Step 01

If the person died at home

Tell the Grama Niladhari within 5 days of the death. The Grama Niladhari sends a death report on form B24 to the Births and Deaths Registrar for the place where the death occurred. Get form CR02 from that Registrar, fill it in and hand it in - the Registrar registers the death.

Step 02

If the person died in a hospital

Go to the Births and Deaths Registrar for that hospital. A relative, a person present at the death or the hospital's medical officer in charge can give notice. Hand in the following documents.

• The completed form CR02 - get it from the Registrar
• The hospital's report confirming the death

Step 03

If the person died on an estate

A relative, a person present at the death, the occupier of the building or the person performing the final rites must tell the Estate Superintendent within 24 hours. The Superintendent records and certifies the death report on form CR02 and sends it through the District Medical Officer to the Additional District Registrar at the Divisional Secretariat, who registers the death and sends the certificate back to the Superintendent. Hand in the following documents.

• The person's medical reports, if available
• The person's clinic reports, if available

Step 04

Check and collect the death certificate

Registration is free within 3 months of the death, and the person who gave notice receives the death certificate free of charge. Read it and check every detail before you leave.

Step 05

Hand in the person's NIC

The Department for Registration of Persons says a dead person's NIC must be handed in, to stop it being misused. Take it to the Registration of Persons division at the Divisional Secretariat. Hand in the following documents.

• The person's NIC
• The Annexure 01 form (opens in a new tab), filled in by a relative of the person, certified by the Registrar of Deaths and then by the Grama Niladhari

Step 06 · optional

If the person's NIC is lost

At the Divisional Secretariat, hand in the following documents instead of the NIC.

• A police report about the lost NIC
• The Annexure 02 form (opens in a new tab), filled in by a relative of the person, certified by the Registrar of Deaths and then by the Grama Niladhari

Step 07 · optional

Or hand in the NIC at the head office

You can also hand it in to the Operations Division of the Department for Registration of Persons head office in Battaramulla. Hand in the following documents.

• The person's NIC, with 3 photocopies
• A certified photocopy of the death certificate
• 3 completed D.R.P./OP/01/3 forms (opens in a new tab)

Step 08

Registering late (after 3 months)

Submit declaration form B15 to the Additional District Registrar at the Divisional Secretariat for the place where the death occurred. The closest relative who was present at the death or attended the person in their last illness, or any other interested person, can submit it. The declaration must be made within 25 years of the death (excluding sudden deaths). Download form B15 (opens in a new tab).

Step 09

Need more copies later?

To get certified copies after registration, use the death certificate copy guide (form B63a).