Sri Lanka participated in the Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Asia and the Pacific, held from 24 to 26 June 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok. The Sri Lankan delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Health, included the Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, the Additional Secretary (Public Health Services), the Registrar General, and the Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics.
The opening session featured remarks by the Executive Secretary of ESCAP, who emphasized birth registration as a fundamental right that enables access to services and legal identity. She highlighted the progress made since the 2014 “Get Every One in the Picture” Declaration, as outlined in the 2025 CRVS Progress Report, and called for continued efforts in digital innovation and inclusion, especially for marginalized groups.
Delivering Sri Lanka’s national statement under the agenda item of ‘Towards the Shared Vision of Universal and Responsive CRVS’, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed the country’s strong commitment to inclusive CRVS. He highlighted that over 99% of births and 55% of deaths occur in hospitals, supported by trained personnel, national guidelines, and a mobile application to strengthen death certification. He also outlined efforts to expand access through mobile registration units and digital tools such as a new Monitoring & Evaluation system and a unified “One Registry” platform to consolidate services and enhance interoperability.
The Deputy Minister also addressed the Ministerial Roundtable on ‘Harnessing the Health Sector to Close Birth and Death Registration Gaps’, where he emphasized the health sector’s critical role in improving registration coverage, especially during emergencies such as COVID-19. He stressed the importance of better integration between health and CRVS systems to ensure timely, accurate data for policy and planning.
Meanwhile, the Additional Secretary participated in the panel discussion on ‘Inclusive CRVS Systems in Support of the 2030 Agenda’, reiterating Sri Lanka’s commitment to ensuring legal identity for all, including women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
Sri Lanka’s active engagement in this regional forum reaffirmed its dedication to building a responsive, digital, and inclusive CRVS system that leaves no one behind.
Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok
02 July 2025
