Tue, 2012-10-23 00:14 — editor
Chennai, 23 October, (Asiantribune.com)
The Office of the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai
conducted a Special Consular Service for Sri Lankans living in Tamil Nadu
refugee camps on Saturday the 20 th October 2012 at the Chancery premises.
This was the very first event to be held at the new Chancery premises
which was opened on 20 th September 2012.
The facilitation of return of Sri Lankan refugees from Tamil Nadu is
viewed as an important part of the reconciliation programme that has been
launched in post-conflict Sri Lanka. Accordingly, this Special Consular Service
was conducted as part of the preparatory process of the prospective returnees
to the motherland.
Inaugural ceremony was attended by B S Gnanadesikan, Member of Rajaya
Sabha and President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and T K Rangarajan,
Member of Rajya Sabha of Communist Party of India (Marxist), along with around
300 people including the representatives from media and think-tanks. During the
event, 149 Citizenship Certificates, 50 passports and 59 Birth Certificates
were handed over to the Sri Lankan Refugees living in Tamil Nadu by the Deputy
High Commissioner, Amb. R.K.M.A. Rajakaruna.
Amongst 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 accordingly. 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
Department of Rehabilitation of Tamil Nadu. The OfERR, an NGO working for the
welfare of Sri Lankan refugees assisted in this endeavour.
- Asian Tribune -
