Sri Lanka's ministry of home affairs this week pledged to complete the issuing of 'Certificates of Absence' to families of those reported missing during the armed conflict by the end of this year.
Ceylon Today quoted the ministry's secretary, J J Rathnasiri as saying the process was already under way but would be complete by December.
"If anyone provides false information claiming a person is missing when in fact he or she is not missing, that person will be liable to five years imprisonment for misleading the government," he reportedly added.
The certificate allows for the same rights as that of the issuing of a death certificate for a loved one.
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