Death certificates for conflict, tsunami victims

by Mohammed NAALIR

Moves are afoot to issue death certificates on behalf of those who died due to the conflict and the tsunami tragedy, Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry sources said.

A Gazette notice relating to death certificates will be issued within two weeks and other essential steps in the process of issuing death certificates will follow the Gazette notice.

Such a program was in effect in 2005 with the approval of Parliament, but existed only for three years, according to the sources.

As this scheme expired in June 2008, and as there is a continuing need for issuing death certificates, the approval of Parliament was obtained with the submission of another Bill.

According to a top ranking officer attached to the Ministry, the distribution of death certificates will take place shortly.

Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister John Seneviratne has obtained the approval of Parliament for the scheme.