Document #1113963
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
A professor of political science
specializing on Sri Lanka at the University of New Brunswick in
Fredericton provided the following information on the above subject
during a telephone interview on 25 October 1994.
A child can be adopted in Sri Lanka upon
receipt of a court order permitting the adopters to apply for a
birth certificate identifying them as the parents of the adopted
child. In such case Sri Lankan authorities issue birth certificates
to children whose births have not been registered and therefore
have no birth certificates, or issue new birth certificates to
children who have birth certificates identifying their biological
parents as their original parents. Since Sri Lankan authorities
keep birth records of any person whose birth was registered, an
adopted child who has reached legal age and wishes to know who
his/her biological parents are can receive a copy of the original
birth certificate issued prior to adoption. Adopters cannot prevent
their legally adult children from receiving their original birth
certificates.
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Professor of political science
specializing on Sri Lanka, University of New Brunswick,
Fredericton. 25 October 1994. Telephone interview.