Sworn translator in Colombo or near you: how to find one, and when online works

Use the official register, not only a map search

A sworn translator in Sri Lanka is a person appointed by the Ministry of Justice after passing its written test and taking an oath before a District Court Judge. The Ministry publishes a list of sworn translators and provides a “Find a Sworn Translator” search that filters by district (Colombo among 25) and by language pair (31 pairs, from Sinhala–English and Tamil–English to pairs with Arabic, French, German, Japanese and others).

A search for “sworn translator near me” shows individual translators and their reviews. Reviews tell you about service; they do not tell you whether the person is registered for your language pair. Check the Ministry’s register, and ask to see the translator’s stamp: the Ministry requires it to show the name, the designation “Sworn Translator”, the registration number, the languages sworn in, the address and a telephone number.

• Search the Ministry’s register by district and language pair.
• Match the translator’s languages to your document’s source and target language.
• Note the registration number from the stamp.

What to ask before you hand over a document

Say what the document is, which organisation will receive it and what that organisation asked for: a signed translation, a stamped copy of the original attached, or attestation afterwards by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A translator who knows the destination can tell you what form the signed translation should take.

Ask what the quote includes: the translation, the signed and stamped copy, any extra copies, and whether you collect in person or receive it by post or email. Agree on the spelling of names in Latin letters if the document is in Sinhala or Tamil and the person already has a passport or earlier translated records.

• Tell the translator the destination and its exact requirement.
• Give the established spelling of every name.
• Agree on the delivery form and the number of signed copies.

When online sworn translation works

You do not need to be in Colombo to use a sworn translator. On Translate you upload a clear photo or PDF of the document, see the draft beside the original, and choose sworn review. A sworn translator on the Ministry of Justice register checks, corrects and signs the translation; the certificate carries a serial number and a QR code that anyone can verify on the public verification page without an account. The price is shown before you pay. Sworn review is available for Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Some offices still ask for a wet-ink signature on paper or for the translation to be physically attached to the original. If the receiving organisation says so, you will need a paper copy as well, so ask before you order. Where a verifiable digital certificate is accepted, the online route saves the trip.

• Upload the whole document, including the reverse side and any stamps.
• Check names, dates and numbers in the draft before sending it for review.
• Ask the receiving office whether it accepts a verifiable digital certificate or needs paper.

Outside Colombo

The register covers every district, and sworn translators work in Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Matara and elsewhere. If your district has no translator for an unusual language pair, the online route or a translator in another district is the usual answer; the appointment is national, not limited to one district.

If the document is going abroad, remember that attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a separate step with its own offices in Battaramulla and in Kandy, Kurunegala, Matara, Jaffna and Trincomalee. Our attestation guide explains that step.