In the event that a holder of a National Identity card requests an English translation of the National Identity card confirming the information on the National Identity card issued by the Department for Registration of Persons, the information on the National Identity card will be translated and provided.

Documents to be submitted to obtain English translations of National Identity cards

National Identity card (undamaged clear National Identity card should be provided)
The form in which the information of the National Identity card is recorded.
Receipt obtained by paying Rs.2000/- to the cashier counter of the head office of the Department for Registration of Persons for translation of the National Identity card into English.

It is possible to obtain English translations of the National Identity card from the B Wing on the 09^th floor of the Head Office of the Department for Registration of Persons, and it is mandatory for the holder of the National Identity card to be present for this purpose. In the event that the holder of the National Identity card is unable to come due to some special reason, the letter of English translation of the National Identity card could be obtained by providing a letter of authorization given to mother, father, spouse, siblings or the legal guardian.

This opportunity is provided by the Department when a special request is made by any institution or Government Department or when a request is made from the Commissioner General by the Divisional Secretariats.

The Department for Registration of Persons is delegated the authority to confirm the accuracy of information in the National Identity card by Section 39 of the Registration of Persons Act No.32 of 1968, as amended by the Registration of Persons Act No. 8 of 2016. In order to obtain this service, a written application must be made to the Commissioner General.

Accordingly, information of the computerized National Identity card is provided through an online system to the authorities, who contract with the Department upon the consent of the National Identity card holder. Here, an invoice is issued by the Department to a relevant institution on a monthly basis, including the fee to be paid to a certain institution in relation to the number of requests submitted for confirmation of information.

Whenever providing service requirements of a person, in the event that the information of the National Identity card of a person is not available in the database of this Department, a financial institution or any other organization queries could be made from the department, subsequent to notifying the person concerned.

In order to confirm the accuracy of the National Identity card issued to that person, the relevant National Identity card and his/her birth certificate should be forwarded to the number verification branch of the Department or to the National Identity card branch of the nearest Divisional Secretariat. The National Identity card, of which the accuracy is confirmed, will be entered into the system.

Inquiries
Head of Branch - Number Verification Branch
Telephone : 011 52261624
E-mail : hob.ccu@drp.lk

In the process of issuing National Identity cards to Sri Lankan citizens, when a person has applied to amend the National Identity card in possession or to obtain a duplicate of a lost National Identity card, or when receiving services using the National Identity card issued to the applicant, or when the following issues are detected, the relevant application will be dealt with promptly and correction will be done.

The same National Identity card number issued to two persons
National Identity card issued with a number that does not match the date of birth or gender, due to an error of the department.
In cases where the applicant has been notified by a financial organization or any other institution to get the accuracy of the National Identity card checked.
Whenever there is a requirement for verification of the National Identity card numbers of deceased persons, the relevant number verification letter is issued by the number verification branch of the Department for Registration of Persons.

Documents required for obtaining National Identity card number verification letters

Request of the relevant person for a number verification letter from the Department.
National Identity card issued for the last time.
Birth Certificate
Documents such as passport, driver’s license, bank passbook, employee provident fund records, etc. as acceptable written evidence for the use of the last issued national Identity card number.
All the documents and records mentioned under the instructions for verification of National Identity card numbers of deceased persons, in the case of an inquiry made by the relatives after a death

Note:

1. It is mandatory for the individual to have the last issued National Identity card, and if the National Identity card is lost, damaged, defaced or the information is unclear, the person should submit the request for number verification letter subsequent to obtaining a duplicate of the identity card.
2. In cases where the National Identity card verification has to be submitted to foreign missions on requirements of individuals, since the letter of verification of National Identity card number has to be issued in a trilingual format as per the agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Identity card should have been obtained as a smart card.
3. Also, on all occasions, the holder of the National Identity card and, in cases of verification of National Identity card number of a deceased person, the next of kin of the deceased should submit a request for obtaining number verification letter to the department, and an authorized person with the recommendation of the relevant Grama Niladhari can come to the department for special reasons such as disability/sickness.
4. A fee of Rs. 500/- should be paid to the government for confirmation of the National Identity card number of a deceased person.

Steps should be taken to handover the National Identity cards of deceased persons to the Department for Registration of Persons or the Divisional Secretariat.

It is stated in Registration of Persons Regulation No.16 of 2017 regarding the National Identity cards of deceased persons.
National Identity cards of deceased persons should be surrendered to the department or to the Registration of Persons division at the Divisional Secretariat.

Handing over the National Identity cards of deceased persons to the department

Following documents are required when handing over the National Identity cards of deceased persons to the Operations Division of the Head Office.

National Identity card of the deceased along with 03 photocopies
Certified photocopy of death certificate
03 completed forms of D.R.P./OP/01/3

Acceptance of National Identity cards of deceased persons by the Divisional Secretariat

If the National Identity card is available,

National Identity card of the deceased person
Annexure 01 formobtained from a relative of the deceased party.
The form referred to in 2 above, following certification by the Registrar of Deaths, also certified by the Grama Niladhari.

In cases where the National Identity card is lost,

Accordingly,

Police report
Annexure Form 02 obtained from a relative of the deceased party.
The form referred to in 2 above, following certification by the Registrar of Deaths, also certified by the Grama Niladhari.

Whenever there is a requirement to get the National Identity card numbers of deceased persons verified, the corresponding number verification letter is issued by the number verification branch of the Department for Registration of Persons.

Whenever there are complaints related to the issued National Identity cards or in cases where problems are observed in the applications entered into the system (cases where the date of birth is different, cases where there are different dates of birth and birth certificates, cases where different names are used, cases where the identity cards are tampered with), a formal investigation will be conducted and action will be taken to resolve the relevant issues.

At present, the department’s data system is linked to the Sri Lanka Police; therefore, the Sri Lanka Police conducts police clearances, and applications with problems are forwarded to the department, and clearances are issued after solving the problems.