Special service by Chennai consulate to facilitate returning Lankans

The office of the Deputy High Commission (DHC) of Sri Lanka in Chennai launched a special service to provide citizenship certificates to Sri Lankans living in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu.

The citizenship certificate and other documents such as birth certificates, passports etc too will be issued to those who want to return, prior to their departure to Sri Lanka, a spokesman said.

The DHC conducted a special consular service recently where citizenship certificates were handed over to Sri Lankans living in Gummidipoondi Camp by Deputy High Commissioner R K M A Rajakaruna. Speaking on the occasion, Rajakaruna said: “We are holding this special consular service to facilitate the impending return of those present here as well as other Sri Lankan nationals living in 110 camps in Tamil Nadu.

“We appreciate the cooperation and assistance of the Indian government and the state of Tamil Nadu in this regard”.

According to the DHC, on any given day, about 100 Sri Lankans living in Tamil Nadu come over to the Mission seeking assistance for consular needs.

The Mission said they issue documents such as passports, birth certificates and citizenship certificates to Lankan citizens, who are living in the camps, without charging any statutory fees. Rajakaruna said: “I am not aware of any other diplomatic Mission in the world providing consular services free of charge.

This is a special arrangement by the Sri Lankan government to facilitate the returning process”. The DHC in Chennai also intends to provide a booklet giving information that would be helpful for returnees.

According to DHC, among the Sri Lankan children born in Tamil Nadu refugee camps, there are thousands of births yet to be registered under the Consular Functions Act of Sri Lanka and citizenship certificates to be issued.

Possession of such documents will help them for a smooth transition and re-integration, once they are back in Sri Lanka.

The special consular service was held in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Department of Tamil Nadu.