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Death certificates for the missing
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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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