Govt. doubles one-time allowance for families of missing persons

• Cabinet nod to remove the requirement to obtain ‘Certificate of Absence’ 

The Government has decided to double the one-time allowance paid to the next of kin of missing persons from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 200,000.  

The proposal to this effect submitted by Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday. 

“Considering the long time to obtain the ‘Certificate of Absence’ and given that Rs. 100,000 is inadequate, the Cabinet of Ministers approved to remove the requirement to obtain this certificate provided the Office of Reparations had confirmed that a person is indeed missing, and also to increase the one-time allowance paid to the next of kin from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 200,000,” a statement comprising Weekly Cabinet Decisions issued by the Government Information Department noted. 

The allowance is paid to families of missing persons based on the ‘Certificate of Absence’ issued for missing persons by the Registrar General. Up until now, families had to present this certificate to the next of kin to obtain the allowance.