1.   Reporting the Death and informing the Next of Kin (Next of Kin)

1. Confirmation of Death (Police / Hospital should formally inform the Mission confirming the death).
2. The Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will formally inform the Next of Kin of the deceased.
3. The Next of Kin must submit the required documents to initiate consular procedures.

Early submission of complete and accurate documents will help avoid delays.

Document submission is free of charge.

●     The No Objection/Authorisation letter of the Mission is required for the nominated individual to carry out the arrangements of the death in the RoK.

●     In order to do this, submission of the Consent Affidavit from the Next of Kin or authorised person nominating a person in the RoK to carry out the necessary arrangements including if to carry out a postmortem and whether the remains are to be Repatriated/ Cremated has to be done as soon as possible.

a.    Required Documents (All Cases)

Once the death is notified the Next of Kin (Parents if unmarried / Spouse if married) in Sri Lanka should  submit the following:

●     Completed Complaint Form (Sinhala | Tamil | English)

●     Consent Affidavit from the Next of Kin or authorised person (Sinhala | Tamil | English)

●     No-Objection Affidavit(s) (if multiple Next of Kins or an authorised representative is involved)

●     Birth Certificate of the deceased

●     Copies of the National Identity Card (NIC) and Passport of the deceased

●     Family Background Report issued by the Grama Niladhari and countersigned by the Divisional Secretary

●     Affidavit confirming same name, where discrepancies exist

b.    Additional Documents

                                     i.        If the Deceased Was Married

●     Marriage certificate or divorce certificate (as applicable)

●     If the marriage was not legally registered, an affidavit from the spouse confirming the relationship

●     Spouse’s National Identity Card (NIC) and birth certificate

●     Children’s NICs and birth certificates (if applicable)

●     Death certificate of the spouse (if the spouse is deceased)

                                    ii.        If the Deceased Was Unmarried

●     Parents’ marriage certificate

●     Parents’ and siblings’ NICs and birth certificates

●     Affidavit confirming unmarried status (to be provided by a parent, or by a sibling if both parents are deceased)

c.    Submission of Documents

                                     i.        During Working Days

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Documents may be submitted to:

Death Section, Consular Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Regional Consular Offices (Kandy, Kurunegala, Matara, Jaffna, Trincomalee)

Any Divisional Secretariat Office

                                    ii.        During Weekends & Public Holidays

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Documents may be submitted to:Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic Building, Sir Baron Jayathilake Mawatha, Colombo 01.Sri Lanka

2. Repatriation of Human Remains

2.1  Eligibility

•    Sri Lankan citizens

•    Sri Lankan-born individuals holding foreign passports

•    Foreign nationals married to Sri Lankan citizens

2.2 Required Documents for Repatriation

Prior approval for repatriation of human remains shall be obtained from the Airport Health Officer (APHO) at Bandaranaike International Airport by submitting the following documents. All documents must be produced in the English language.

If in other languages, a true copy of the + English translated document should be produced.

•    Cancelled passport (proof of identity)

•    Death certificate indicating cause of death

•    Embalming certificate

•    Certificate confirming absence of infectious disease

•    Police / Coroner / Forensic report (if applicable)

•    No Objection Certificate from the Sri Lanka Embassy in Seoul

2.3 Special Health Requirements

Repatriation may be restricted in cases involving infectious diseases.

Public health regulations may require:

•    Special approvals

•    Mandatory waiting periods

•    Alternative arrangements (e.g., local burial or cremation)

For more details on repatriation guidelines : Attachment

3. Personal Effects of the Deceased

In order to receive the valuables of  the Next of Kin ( eg. Documents & Jewellery)

●     Submit a written request via email, post, or in person to the Consular Affairs Division

●     The Next of Kin will be notified once the items are available for collection

If a representative is collecting items directly from the relevant Mission/Post:

●     Submit an authorisation affidavit from the Next of Kin

●     Provide a copy of the representative’s passport  

For More information and queries:

Death Section

Consular Affairs Division

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

16th Floor, “Suhurupaya”

Sri Subhuthipura Road

Battaramulla

Sri Lanka

+94 11 227 5525

death.consular@mfa.gov.lk