Registrar General's Department, Sri Lanka Online LAND Portal

Overview

The Registrar General's Department of Sri Lanka is the government body responsible for the registration of births, deaths, marriages, and legal documents relating to movable and immovable properties, including land. Its Online LAND Portal (online.land.rgd.gov.lk) provides public access to digitized land registration records and related services, representing a significant step in the digitization of Sri Lanka's property registration infrastructure.

History and Founding

The Registrar General's Department was initially established in 1864 for the purpose of land registration. Civil registration functions—covering births, marriages, and deaths—were added in 1867. The department operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and maintains a network of 45 Land and District Registrars offices and 7 Zonal Offices for civil registration, covering all 332 Divisional Secretariats in Sri Lanka. The Title Registration Act No. 21 of 1998 introduced the BimSaviya program, a national initiative for title registration to clarify land ownership.

Collections and Holdings

The department preserves and manages extensive registries of land deeds, title schedules, and property documents, as well as birth, death, and marriage certificates. Digital initiatives include the e-Land Register project, which has scanned millions of land documents from major registries, and an online portal for submitting certified copy requests. The Online LAND Portal provides electronic access to deed registration checks and related services.

Access and Usage

The Online LAND Portal at online.land.rgd.gov.lk is accessible to the public. The department's main website at rgd.gov.lk provides information on services. Physical access is available at the head office in Battaramulla and through regional land registrar offices. Office hours are Monday through Friday.