International Expert Assistance Sought to Recover Landslide Victims and Locate Missing Persons

The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has requested the government to seek international expert assistance for the recovery of bodies buried in landslides caused by Cyclone "Dithwa" and to locate those missing due to the disaster. Although searching for individuals missing in natural disasters does not directly fall within the official scope of its office, the OMP emphasizes that based on its experience working with families of the missing, priority should be given to efforts to locate bodies.

Commissioner Mirak Raheem of the Office on Missing Persons stated that the purpose of this request is to provide an opportunity for the relatives of the affected families to perform dignified last rites for their deceased members. Meanwhile, a rapid relief team belonging to the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Force of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is already engaged in rescue operations in the severely affected areas and is also contributing to the distribution of essential food and emergency shelter materials for displaced families.

The Department of Registrar General has also commenced the process of issuing death certificates to the families of individuals missing due to the disaster, in accordance with a new gazette notification. Under this, a relative of the missing person's family must submit an affidavit to the Grama Niladhari (Village Officer) of the relevant area, and it will be made public for a period of two weeks for any objections to be raised.

Subsequently, upon the recommendation of the Divisional Secretary and the submission of relevant documents from the Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, regional Registrar offices will proceed to issue death certificates to the affected families. The Department of Registrar General states that approximately 126 death certificates have already been issued for individuals reported missing in the landslides.