Death certificates issued to 80% of disaster victims: Registrar Department

By Indika Sri Aravinda

Colombo, January 2 (Daily Mirror) - The Registrar General’s Department has issued death registration certificates to around 80% of those who lost their lives in landslides and floods triggered by Cyclone “Ditwah,” officials said.

According to the department, death certificates have so far been issued for 519 victims, while arrangements are underway to issue certificates for a further 92 identified individuals.

Registrar General Ms.Sasidevi Jaldeepan said that based on data received from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), the bodies of 611 people have been identified following the disaster.

She added that of the 164 people currently reported missing due to landslides and floods, the names of 92 individuals have been displayed at Divisional Secretariat offices to confirm their identities.

Ms. Jaldeepan further said that steps are being taken to issue death registration certificates for all identified bodies without delay.

Meanwhile, under a special gazette notification issued by the government on the 2nd, provisions have been made to issue death registration certificates for persons missing due to sudden disasters if no information is received about them within the stipulated period.

Accordingly, if no objections are raised regarding a missing person affected by the disaster, death registration certificates will be issued with the approval of the relevant Regional Deputy or Assistant Registrar General, as authorised by the Registrar General, through the Divisional Secretary.