The Sri Lanka Police has introduced a temporary procedure for submitting applications for police clearance certificates following a technical failure affecting the computerized system used by the Police Clearance Division.
The data system at the Police Clearance Division, located on the 17th floor of the Suhurupaya Building in Battaramulla, has been inactive since the afternoon of August 20, 2026. While efforts are underway to restore the system, the Police Headquarters has introduced an alternative method to allow the public to submit applications.
Under the temporary procedure, applicants can download the police clearance application form from the official Sri Lanka Police website by selecting the “Download Application” option. The completed form, together with copies of the applicant’s National Identity Card and passport, should then be sent by email to [email protected].
The Police Clearance Division will begin the necessary background checks based on the documents submitted by email. However, police clearance certificates will only be issued once the computerized system has been fully restored. No payment is required at the initial stage of the temporary application process.
The Police Media Division has stressed that applicants who use this temporary procedure must resubmit their applications through the online system once normal operations resume. They will also be required to make the relevant payment at that stage.
Meanwhile, individuals who submitted applications before the system failure will be able to check the police website for reference numbers of certificates that are ready for collection. Those applicants can collect their certificates from the 17th floor of the Suhurupaya Building, with collection services also available on Saturdays and Sundays.
Applicants whose reference numbers are not published on the website will receive their clearance certificates after the computerized system has been completely restored.
The Police Headquarters said technical teams are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and assured the public that further updates will be provided once normal online services resume.
