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In December 2005, I applied for two copies of my birth certificate to the Registrar General's Office, Maligawatte. Since I was born at the De Soysa maternity home, I thought it would be appropriate to apply to the Maligawatte office. To date I have not heard from them.

I am urgently in need of my birth certificate, since I need to get my passport.
Please let me know whether there is a change in their procedures, and also give me the exact address to go to for this purpose.

The Registrar General's office in Maligawatte is only a record room, and since you were born at the De Soysa Maternity Home, the application should be handed over to the Thimbirigasyaya Registrar's Office.

The People's Forum contacted the District Registrar of the Thimbirigasyaya office, and we were informed that once you fill up and submit the application, which is available at their office, the usual procedure will be carried out to issue the copies of the required birth certificates. The office is located at No. 7, Vajira Lane, Thimbirigasyaya, Colombo 5 and is open from 8.30 a.m. to 4.15 p.m. on weekdays.

Translation
Is it compulsory to attach an English translation for a Tamil birth certificate, when applying for a passport? Doesn't this violate the official Language Act (Tamil)?

The People's Forum contacted the Additional Controller, Department of Immigration, and were told that there is no need to attach an English translation for a Tamil Birth Certificate when applying for a passport, as the officers at the department can read Tamil and there are translators as well.

But the Additional Controller said that there may be instances where people applying through the Divisional Secretariats could be asked to submit a translation. Yet the officials are not supposed to ask for a translation, as according to the National Language Act, Sinhala and Tamil are considered national languages.

Residents of Summerfield Gardens, Kegalle and its vicinity have suffered from about 10 a.m. to about 2 or 3 p.m. on a daily basis over a prolonged period of about eight months, with very few exceptions. Needless to say, as of now electric power is not used for lighting only, but finds a wide application in working, refrigeration of food and working other household gadgetry in lieu of domestic helpers.

Consumers who pay heavy bills expect an uninterrupted supply. Representations made to the relevant authorities have not yielded the deserved response thus far, hence this appeal to the People's Forum for assistance.

- Chandra Ratnaweera

The People's Forum forwarded your complaint to the Engineering Assistant H. Jayasiri of the Kegalle CEB Area Engineer's Office, who said that so far they have not received any complaints from the residents of this area regarding power interruptions. Since he needs to inquire further, you are requested to contact him on 035-221627 (office) or 0714215577 (mobile) after which he would take necessary action.

This is regarding an alternative land in lieu of lost land in Hantana Housing scheme. As this case has been dragging on for the last 20 years, I feel very frustrated. I would be very grateful to the People's Forum if you could sort it out, and let me know where I stand, as my late husband had paid the full amount for the purchase of the land.

The People's Forum inquired from the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) regarding this matter, and we were informed that they have reached a final decision - that they are unable to provide alternative land to the land you lost. When the People's Forum put forward your complaint that you were not given the deeds for the land, which is why it could not be used for any purpose, the NHDA said that the only option for you would be to make an appeal once again to the Chairman of NHDA.

My husband retired in 1970, and after his death in August 2003, I am in receipt of his pension. As a W and O. P. pensioner, am I entitled to the revised pension award and arrears from January 21, 2004, according to a new circular issued on March 4, 2005, by the Director of Pensions?

The People's Forum forwarded your letter to the Director of Pensions. As rectifying pension anomalies has been decentralised to Divisional Secretariats, the Director requests you to please forward this matter to the Divisional Secretariat, where your pension is processed. He says you should inform them of your W and O. P. number, and refer to Pension Circular 6/2004 when you make your request.