• Original copies of birth, marriage and death certificates that have been issued on 01.01.2008 or thereafter are accepted for attestation. Original certificate must be produced.
• Birth, marriages and death certificates issued prior to 01.01.2008 will be accepted for attestation only if the original document obtained from the original registry or the data system of the District Registrar’s Office at the Divisional/District Secretariat and certified by the District Registrar either on 01.01.2008 or thereafter, since the database of the Registrar General Department is not updated to be shared with the Consulate General.
• It is necessary to note that the meaning of “Original Copy” is not the document handed over to the applicant by the Registrar who registers the birth, marriage or death at the time of the incident occurred, with the remark ‘Issued free of charge’. In this context, applicant should submit the certified true copy issued by the District Registrar, which is obtained from the database or official registry for attestation.
• The document issued at the time of registering the birth, marriage or death would be considered for attestation if the document has been re-certified by the District Registrar as a true copy or obtained after 01.01.2008.

• Kandyan Divorce certificate issued by the registrar, which is obtained from the Data Base or Official Registry after the Birth, Marriage and Death registered at the office of the District Registrar will be accepted for attestation.
• An authorized officer of the Divisional Secretariat should certify Muslim Divorce Certificates relevant to the Quasi Court where the divorce order issued.

• The original certificate should be produced along with the translation of a foreign language. When a Sinhala or Tamil document is translated into another foreign language, the contents of the original document should be indicated in the translated copy in English in the summary form.
• A document translated into another foreign language, in Sri Lanka, will be accepted for attestation only if the relevant document has been translated by a sworn translator registered at the Ministry of Justice as a translator competent to translate in that particular foreign language. Sworn Translator must place seal and signature in copy of the original document and on the translation.
• An authorized officer of the Ministry of Justice should certify the signature of the sworn translator.

• Sri Lankan birth, marriage and death certificates translated into another foreign language will be accepted for attestation only if the relevant document has been attested by Sri Lanka Mission/Post abroad. The original certificate should be produced along with the translation.
• If any other translation of a Sri Lankan Document (other than birth, marriage and death certificates) needs to be attested, original document should be produced and it will be verified along with the translation.

• Affidavit or Power of Attorney declared or signed by Sri Lankan citizen or Sri Lankan Corporate Citizen will be accepted for attestation. Sri Lanka Corporate citizen should produce supporting documents to prove such information. (Eg: Form 20 document certified by the Registrar of Companies etc)
• The registrar of the Supreme Court should certify the affidavit or Power of Attorney if it is signed by an Attorney-at-Law.
• An authorized officer of the Justice of the Peace branch of the Ministry of Justice should certify the affidavit if a Justice of the Peace has signed it.
• Power of Attorneys declared by foreign nationals are not accepted for attestation. It is accepted only if they possess properties in Sri Lanka and when the Power of Attorney is declared regarding the same properties.
• Any Sri Lankan citizen abroad could declare or sign affidavits or Power of Attorney at the Sri Lankan Mission/Post of that country, in the presence of an authorized officer, under the Consular Functions Act.
• Relevant official documents should be produced to substantiate the facts given in an Affidavit or a Power of Attorney, In the event of relevant official documents not being produced to substantiate the facts contained in an Affidavit or a Power of Attorney, it will not be considered for attestation.
• Affidavits produced to substantiate the alterations made in identification documents issued by the Government such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, Passports, Driving Licenses, National Identity Cards etc. will be attested only if the alterations have been made in the original documents and certified by the issuing authority.
• Affidavits prepared for under aged children to travel abroad with a third party other than the parents or legal guardians will be accepted for attestation only if the permission granted to such third party by a Civil Court or Commissioner of Probation and Child Care to allow such a child to travel with the assigned at the relevant Divisional Secretariat and counter signed by the Divisional Secretary of that particular Divisional Secretariat.

Police Clearance certificates issued by the Police Head Quarters

• All the Police clearance certificates should be made on the format of Police Head Quarters and any other document in letterheads will NOT be accepted.
• Applicant’s name, National Identity Card number, date, mailing address, period covered by the Police Clearance report, signature of the authorized officer of the Police Head Quarters and his/her official seal should be clearly and correctly indicated in the Police Clearance Report.

• ONLY the photo and information page, alterations and observations pages of the valid passports (four pages) issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration are accepted to certify as True Copy.
• Original passport must be produced. If the original passport is not available, a copy certified by the Department of Immigration and Emigration should be produced for certification.

• A certified true copy obtained from the Department of Immigration & Emigration (DIE) within six months’ period should be produced along with the original citizenship certificate issued by the DIE. Original certificate can be certified if it is issued within a one-year period.
• Letters issued by the DIE regarding citizenship are also accepted for attestation.

• Only the extract of information issued by the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic will be attested. The applicant must produce original driving license with this extract and copy of the same if available.
• Documents issued by Ceylon Automobile Association should be certified by the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic before attestation.

• Only the original letter issued by the Commissioner for the Registration of Persons will be attested. (The applicant may produce the National Identity Card and copy of the same if available.)

Medical certificates issued in Sri Lanka

• Medical Certificates will be attested only if the Sri Lankan Medical Council has certified it.
• Ayurvedic Medical Certificates will be attested only if the Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Medical Council has certified it.

• True copy certified by the registrar of the relevant University and Original Degree Certificate should be submitted. The degree certificate will be attested only after obtaining the confirmation of the certificates from the University.
• The time period taken by the relevant University for the confirmation is a matter that is out of control of this office, and inquiries in this regard should be made to the University concerned.

• Only the information regarding the residence and dependents can be substantiated through certificates issued by Grama Niladhar. The information provided by Grama Niladhari on form ‘DS 4’ and counter signed by the Divisional Secretary will be considered for attestation. Grama Niladhari Certificates, which are not counter signed by the Divisional Secretary will not be accepted for attestation.

• Original with a certified true copy taken recently from Registrar of Companies will be accepted for attestation. Original certificate of the registration of a Company will be attested if the certificate has been issued within 6 months of the time of submission.
• Certified copy of Form-20 is also needed as supporting document to verify the signatory authority of the company.

• To attest the Certificate of Individual Business Registration, applicant needed to submit the original with the certified copy issued by the Divisional Secretariat.

• Article of Association of a Company of Board Resolutions of a Company should register/record at the Registrar of the Companies and certified True Copy of the registered/recorded document should be produced for attestation. OR
• Applicants are needed to submit the Original Article of Association or Board Resolution signed by the members of the Board in front of the Legal Officer of the Company/Company Secretary (an Attorney-at-Law) along with the certification of the Supreme Court.

• Certificates issued by the Heads of Government schools and their translated copies can be attested if necessary, provided the original copy and the translated copy are presented to this division duly certified by the Zonal Director of Education of the relevant Education Zone (which the school belongs).

• For the Attestation of certificates issued by Private/International Schools registered in the Ministry of Education, true copies of documents certified by Heads of such schools should be submitted. The documents will be accepted for attestation only if the Private Schools Branch of the Ministry of Education of the Zonal Education Office certifies them.
• Documents issued by Private/International Schools which are not registered in the Ministry of Education can be attested only as certified copies. For this purpose, original copies of the certificates issued by head of schools should be submitted together with photocopies of relevant documents certified by the heads of schools and a certified true copy of the Business Registration of the School.