With the recent implementation of the online service facility called e-Land Registry by the Registrar General’s Department, LankaPropertyWeb interviewed Attorney-at-Law Kasun Karunanayake on how the implementation of this system would impact and its practicality of it.
The resolution to have an online platform for issuing certified copies of deeds and certified copies of extracts was introduced for the first time in Sri Lanka from the 16th of December 2021. The service is accessible by Attorneys, Notaries, and the Public to get up to five copies of Deeds and five copies of Extracts by submitting one application through the system.
Expressing his views on the facility, Attorney-at-Law Kasun stated that “Since online payments take a significant role under this platform as the payments are made via Visa and Master Cards, it has led to open the doors for all the interested parties in the Property Industry and the General Public to apply Certified Copies of Deeds and Certified Copies of Extracts without physically moving into the relevant land registry.”
Certified copies of these documents however can only be obtained by the owner of the land for sale/his attorney or a representative who has an authorized letter granting power.
Generally, from the time the documents are requested and within seven (7) working days after processing, the interested parties can obtain necessary documents through Speed Post Service or by visiting the relevant land registry to collect them.
Commenting on this Kasun said that sometimes if the documents are urgent for a matter like the execution of a Deed or Filing a Legal Action then the said time span may not be workable. In such a situation applying for the documents by visiting the Land Registries using the ‘One-Day Service’ may be beneficial to meet the urgent matters. Otherwise, the legal authentication affixed on the Documents under the On-line System is the same as what you obtain from the Land Registries by visiting there.
As per the current records of the Registrar General Department, at the moment most of the land registries island-wide have implemented this facility at the service of the General Public.
When asked about the possible practicality issues of the system Kasun said, “Deeds or folios of the Condominium Properties/Title Registration cannot be obtained from this system. Also, the service takes up to seven working days to get necessary information causing a delay.”
Further information on this system can be obtained at all the Land Registry Offices in the Country and through the Registrar General Department Website www.rgd.gov.lk or by calling 0112 889518 for clarifications.