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Tsunami Bill provides for death certificates, orphans
By Chandani Kirinde
A new Bill presented to Parliament on Tuesday will provide legal recourse to thousands of persons affected by the December 26 tsunami by providing for the issue of death certificates and adoption of orphaned children.

The Bill titled Tsunami (Special Provisions) Bill was presented by Justice Minister John Seneviratne and enables special legal provision to be made in respect of persons and property affected by the disaster.

The Bill sets the procedure to follow in making an application for the issue of a death certificate which can be done by the next of kin or in case where there is no next of kin living, any other person having knowledge of such person. The Bill also makes provision for the procedure to follow if a person is found alive after a death certificate has been issued.

Within one month of this Act coming into operation, those who have in their custody a child who is not its natural parent or has not been granted custody of the child or has been committed with the care of the child under any law after December 26, will need to make an application to the Commissioner of Probation and Child Care to be registered as the current custodian of the child. The Bill also deals with possession of immovable property and rights of tenants and lessees.

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