Death certificates for the missing

27 June 2011 05:02 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Sri Lanka government and the United Nations have launched a pilot project in eastern Sri Lanka to issue death certificates for those missing for a long period.

The ministry of National Languages and Integration together with the UNDP is currently conducting a mobile service in Chenkalady, Batticaloa.

UNDP project officer in charge of the initiative, ARM Sulphi, told BBC Sinhala service that the relatives of those missing for over a year can submit an application at the mobile services that are held until 28 June.

The applications will be then published at local government offices for a month, he said, for anybody to file objections if any. He added that free legal advice will be offered to them requested the relatives to bring along all available documents to the mobile services.

Lengthy process

Authorities plan to hold a mobile service along with the Registrar General to issue death certificates if no objections are filed.

It is extremely difficult, and time consuming to get a death certificate issued for those missing in Sri Lanka. Under normal circumstances, the relatives of the disappeared are required to lodge a complaint with the police. Six months after the complaint, a death inquiry will be conducted through court order before issuing the death certificate.

Many relatives who came to the service said they faced many difficulties without death certificates for their lost ones. A mother of a missing 12-year old told BBC Sandeshaya that her son went missing after he left to school in 1995. Some relatives said accused the paramilitaries linked with the government of abducting their relatives.

They approached those concerned, said the relatives, but was never given a satisfactory answer. However, many still believe that their loved ones are yet to be found. (BBCSinhala)

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Comments - 9

Samba Monday, 27 June 2011 05:54 AM

Hope we'll get the correct count.

puchi Monday, 27 June 2011 05:56 AM

This is madness this will sure to lucrative for human trafficers

Ajith Ekanayake Monday, 27 June 2011 06:07 AM

Why we need United Nations for this? UN is no longer an independent body. No one can trust them. They may try to justify their figures in their report against Sri Lanka.

Samba Monday, 27 June 2011 07:10 AM

This is the game government plays.

Guru Monday, 27 June 2011 07:13 AM

Correction, not for the missed, but for the murdered.

Concerned Monday, 27 June 2011 07:58 AM

No need of habayascorpus in future!

Ezhilini Monday, 27 June 2011 09:17 AM

Zero Civilian casuality!!!

Boby Monday, 27 June 2011 12:16 PM

so what?

sankiliyan Tuesday, 28 June 2011 06:23 AM

Its government's responsibility to protect its civilians , not just issuing death certificates , real shame .

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Death certificates for the missing

Comments - 9

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