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| Sunday, 3 July 2005 |
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Adopting tsunami affected children A press release of Justice and Judicial Reforms Ministry on Registration of children affected by the tsunami states that the tsunami (Special Provisions) Act, No. 16 of 2005 came into operation on June 13th, 2005. Part II of the Act makes special provision with regard to the care and custody of children and young persons who have been orphaned or who have been left with a single parent who is unable to take care of the child or young person. A 'child' is a person under 18 years and a 'young person' is a person between 18 and 21 years. As a first step, the Act requires that every person (including a relative), every Institution and every Organisation who/which has the custody of another's child who has been orphaned or another's child who has been left with one parent, be registered with the Commissioner of Probation and Child Care Services as the current custodian of such child. This should be done by making an application to the Commissioner. The application should be made before July 31st, 2005 and could be handed over to the Commissioner in Colombo or to the Divisional Secretary of the area in which the child is currently resident. Failure to register without just cause, is an offence punishable with imprisonment up to 2 years. The requirement of registration applies even to those who have submitted details to the National Child Protection Authority or to any other Organisation on an earlier occasion. The requirement of registration does not apply to those who have been granted custody of a child or been committed with the care of a child under any law after December 26th, 2004. Application Forms are available at the office of the Commissioner of Probation and Child Care Services (located at 150A LHP Building, Nawala Road, Nugegoda), at the National Child Protection Authority (located at No. 330 Thalawathugoda Road, Madiwela, Sri Jayawardenapura) and at the offices of the Provincial Commissioners of Probation and Child Care Services and the offices of Divisional Secretaries in the area affected by the tsunami. |
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