The Registrar General's Department was formed for registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths of the populace Sri Lankan and legal documents pertaining to properties, with a view to safeguarding their fundamental rights.
This Department was initially established in 1864 for the purpose of registration of land and entrusted with civil registration. ie. registration of births, marriages and deaths in 1867.
Civil registration activities have been decentralized up to the Divisional Secretariat level and accordingly a District Registrar's Division is operating in all 332 Divisional Secretariats.
Land registration process is carried out in district level and 45 Land Registries have been established in the Island for the purpose.
The Registrar General's Department is operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs.