Responses to Information Requests

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Documents that Indicate Address

Sources state that individuals’ addresses of residence are found on national identity cards and on drivers' licences in Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka 19 June 2015; CPA 27 June 2015; NPC 10 June 2015). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), an independent Sri Lankan NGO that works to strengthen civil society institutions and promote good governance in the country (CPA 26 June 2015), added that polling or voter cards also indicate addresses, "but are issued only in the run-up to an election" (ibid. 27 June 2015).

2. Methods for Providing Proof of Address

In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, an official at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa stated that showing one's national identity card or driver's license are nationally recognized methods of demonstrating one's address in the country (Sri Lanka 19 June 2015). However, some sources noted that these documents may not indicate the current address of the holder, as they are not renewed when there is a change of address (Socio-cultural Anthropologist 5 June 2015; CPA 27 June 2015). The CPA representative specified that drivers' licences are valid for a period of eight to ten years and national identity cards are only renewed when they are lost or become illegible (ibid.).

The CPA representative added that "[i]n Sri Lankan Courts, the usual practice [to verify place of residence] has been to rely on voter registration information obtained from Grama Niladhari officers [1] [also known as Grama Sevaka Niladhari or Grama Sevaka]," explaining that "[t]his information is updated annually and subject to verification by government officers" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a socio-cultural anthropologist, who is a visiting professor at the University of Colombo and whose research focus includes displacement within Sri Lanka, stated that "if you need to prove your current address, you have to take two kinds of bills (e.g., municipal rates, electricity, telephone, etc.) which have your name on it with your current address and have it endorsed by the Grama Niladhari, the local official for your area" (Socio-cultural anthropologist 5 June 2015). According to the same source, "[t]his is the only way one can prove one's current address" (ibid.). Similarly, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Executive Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka (NPC), an independent NGO founded in 1995 that promotes conflict resolution and the establishment of equal rights across the country (NPC 25 Nov. 2008), also stated that "usually, we use bills sent by state agencies (such as electricity, water bills) or banks (credit card bill, bank statements) as proof of address - say, for children's school admission purposes" (ibid. 10 June 2015). The CPA representative likewise stated that bank statements, which contain an individual's address, are "commonly used" and added that "[u]tility bills are also useful, but are only issued in the name of the head of the household, therefore not everyone will be entitled to obtain utility bills in their name" (CPA 27 June 2015).

According to the CPA representative, Grama Niladhari officers deliver "certificates of residence" upon application by individual citizens, which can also be used "to verify place of residence" (ibid.). The NPC Executive Director likewise stated that Sri Lankan residents could also provide proof of their place of residence through a "[l]etter from the Grama Sevaka (who is the lowest level of government service, the Village Officer)" (NPC 10 June 2015). The Executive Director added that proof of residence could also be provided by a "[c]ertified letter by a justice of the peace," explaining that "[justices of the peace] are honorary appointments by the Ministry of Justice" who can also certify affidavits (ibid.). In a 2011 guest column published by Daily FT, an online Sri Lankan newspaper, a media consultant with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Justice similarly states that justices of the peace receive honorary appointments from the Ministry of Justice and provide official certification of affidavits and documentation (Daily FT 13 Aug. 2011).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] Grama Niladhari officers are “’village officers’” responsible for various administrative duties, such as “issuing character certificates, … certifying identity card applications and acting as peace officers,” as well as “maintaining records and visiting each house under their purview to distribute election documents” (The Sunday Times 14 July 2013).

References

Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA). 27 June 2015. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

_____. 26 June 2015. "Welcome to the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)." <http://www.cpalanka.org/about/> [Accessed 29 June 2015]

Daily FT. 13 August 2011. Dulan Hettlarachchl. "Brief History of Justice of the Peace." <http://www.ft.lk/2011/08/13/brief-history-of-justice-of-the-peace/> [Accessed 25 June 2015]

National Peace Council of Sri Lanka (NPC). 10 June 2015. Correspondence from the Executive Director to the Research Directorate.

_____. 25 November 2008. “About Us.” <http://www.peace-srilanka.org/aboutnpc/introduction> [Accessed 22 June 2014]

Sri Lanka. 19 June 2015. Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa. Telephone interview with an official.

Socio-cultural anthropologist. 5 June 2015. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

The Sunday Times. 14 July 2013. Noreyana Fernando. “Grama Niladhari: Grassroots Go-between State and Common Man.” <http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130714/news/grama-niladhari-grassroots-go-between-state-and-common-man-52904.html> [Accessed 30 June 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The following were unable to provide information for this Response: Sri Lanka – Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, DC.

Attempts to contact the following were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: President, Council of NGOs, Jaffna; Sri Lanka – Department of Registration of Persons.

Internet sites, including: Colombo Gazette; Colombo Mirror; Daily News; ecoi.net; Factiva; IRIN; Keesing Reference Systems; pdalk.com; Sri Lanka – Department of Motor Traffic, Department of Registration of Persons, Districts and Divisional Secretariats Portal, Government Information Centre, Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, Local Government and Democratic Governance, Public Service Training Institute; United Nations – Refworld.