Government & public services

රජය සහ රාජ්‍ය සේවා · அரசாங்கமும் பொதுச் சேவைகளும்

ID, citizenship, voting, councils, complaints

Situations

• Getting or replacing your NIC · ජාතික හැඳුනුම්පත ලබා ගැනීම හෝ නැවත ලබා ගැනීම · தேசிய அடையாள அட்டையைப் பெறுதல் அல்லது மாற்றீடு பெறுதல்
• Applying for dual citizenship · ද්විත්ව පුරවැසිභාවය සඳහා අයදුම් කිරීම · இரட்டைக் குடியுரிமைக்கு விண்ணப்பித்தல்
• A government office ignores you or treats you unfairly · රජයේ කාර්යාලයක් ඔබව නොසලකා හරී හෝ අසාධාරණ ලෙස සලකයි · அரச அலுவலகம் உங்களைப் புறக்கணிக்கிறது அல்லது அநீதியாக நடத்துகிறது
• A public officer asks you for a bribe · රාජ්‍ය නිලධාරියෙක් ඔබෙන් අල්ලසක් ඉල්ලයි · அரச அலுவலர் உங்களிடம் இலஞ்சம் கேட்கிறார்
• Registering to vote and election offences · ඡන්දය සඳහා ලියාපදිංචි වීම සහ මැතිවරණ වැරදි · வாக்காளராகப் பதிவுசெய்தலும் தேர்தல் குற்றங்களும்
• Building permit from your local council · පළාත් පාලන ආයතනයෙන් ගොඩනැගිලි අවසරය · உள்ளூராட்சி சபையிடம் கட்டட அனுமதி
• Getting a passport · ගමන් බලපත්‍රයක් ලබා ගැනීම · கடவுச்சீட்டுப் பெறுதல்
• A foreigner overstays a visa · විදේශිකයෙකු වීසා කාලය ඉක්මවා රැඳීම · வெளிநாட்டவர் விசா காலத்தை மீறித் தங்குதல்

Acts, ordinances and regulations

• Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (1978) — Guarantees equality (Art. 12), access to information (Art. 14A), and lets you go to the Supreme Court (Art. 126) or Court of Appeal (Art. 140).
• Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016 — Lets citizens ask public authorities for information and appeal if refused.
• Citizenship Act, No. 18 of 1948 — Says who is a citizen of Sri Lanka and allows dual citizenship by resumption or retention (s. 19).
• Registration of Persons Act, No. 32 of 1968 (amended by Act No. 8 of 2016) — Requires citizens to register and hold a National Identity Card (NIC).
• Immigrants and Emigrants Act — Controls passports, travel documents and leaving or entering Sri Lanka.
• Registration of Electors Act, No. 44 of 1980 (amended by Act No. 22 of 2021) — Sets who can be on the voters' register: 18 years and resident on 1 February each year.
• Parliamentary Elections Act — Runs parliamentary elections and lists election offences, corrupt and illegal practices.
• Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, No. 3 of 2023 — Limits campaign spending per voter and requires returns of donations and expenses within 21 days of results.
• Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration Act, No. 17 of 1981 — Creates the Ombudsman, who investigates injustice by public officers on written complaints.
• Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 21 of 1996 — Lets you complain within one month about a fundamental rights violation by the State.
• Pradeshiya Sabhas Act, No. 15 of 1987 — Powers of village councils over roads, building limits, unauthorised structures and nuisances.
• Municipal Councils Ordinance and Urban Councils Ordinance — Similar powers for city and town councils, including building approval and public health.
• Urban Development Authority Law, No. 41 of 1978 — In declared development areas, building and other development need a UDA permit (s. 8J).
• Anti-Corruption Act (2023) — Makes asking for or giving bribes an offence and empowers the Bribery Commission to investigate and prosecute.
• Establishments Code — Government rules on how public officers must work, behave and be disciplined.