With support from the UN Development Program (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN Sri Lanka SDG Fund, Sri Lanka has launched “OneRegistry,” an ambitious project to digitize civil registrations, making them faster, easier to access, and fully integrated with government systems.
The initiative replaces traditional paper-based recording with a digital, interoperable Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system linked to government databases, aiming to provide legal identity, empower underserved communities, and enhance social inclusion. OneRegistry supports Sri Lanka’s commitment as a “50-in-5” first mover country—a global campaign aiming for 50 countries to deploy safe, inclusive, interoperable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) within five years.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya highlighted the program’s transformative impact on the government’s digital agenda and public administration. The project collaborates closely with key government partners including the Registrar General’s Department, Ministries of Digital Economy and Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government.
Lakshika Ganepola of the Registrar General’s Department emphasized the initiative’s alignment with national digital efforts such as e-NIC and Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI), which aim to unify and digitally include all citizens. The project targets approximately 1.27 million beneficiaries, including vulnerable groups, by simplifying registration processes and improving service delivery.
Beyond administrative efficiency, digital civil registration will accelerate access to birth and death records, improve public health planning, support emergency response, and remove barriers to government aid, healthcare, and pensions for marginalized communities.
