Sri Lanka is undertaking a major transition from its longstanding paper-based Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system to a comprehensive digital platform under the “OneRegistry” initiative. Building on a legacy of administrative discipline, the shift aims to address inefficiencies inherent in manual recordkeeping while enhancing accessibility and data integrity.

Implemented in partnership with the United Nations, the initiative seeks to establish an inclusive and reliable digital infrastructure. Well-maintained paper archives, such as those in Jaffna, underscore both the strengths of the current system and the complexities of digitization. The new platform is designed to preserve the foundational principles of CRVS—continuity, permanence, compulsion, and universality—while introducing improvements in speed, accuracy, and service delivery.

Through this modernization, Sri Lanka aspires to strengthen legal identity for all citizens, reduce barriers to essential services for underserved populations, and support the development of a more responsive and trusted governance framework.

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