Restoring Family Links

 

Introduction

The act of Restoring Family Links stands at the core of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS). This vital mission is designated by the SLRCS Constitution in Chapter 2, Article 6, which outlines the general objectives and tasks. It underscores SLRCS’s commitment to organizing and facilitating a tracing service during peacetime, natural disasters, and times of conflict.

In our communities, there exists a pressing need for this vital service

The legal framework for our tracing and Red Cross Message services derives from the Geneva Conventions and is offered by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The SLRCS is duly recognized by the Government of Sri Lanka, bearing a special role in Tracing and Family Reunion, as specified in the National Disaster Management Roadmap under the Preparedness and Response Plans of the Emergency Response Networks.

The Restoring Family Links Programme extends its services to conflict-affected groups, migrant workers and their families, individuals impacted by natural disasters, and those who are particularly vulnerable, including children, the elderly, and social cases. The collaborative efforts of SLRCS branches and the national headquarters are dedicated to reestablishing family contact for these separated families.

The SLRCS Tracing Service is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent tracing network, with a steadfast aim to restore family links for vulnerable families facing separation due to migration, disasters, and conflict.

Our Services

We offer a range of services to help families reconnect in times of crisis:

  1. When a Loved One Is Missing (Tracing): Sri Lanka Red Cross Society can assist in reestablishing contact when a family has lost touch with a loved one due to armed conflict, violence, or a natural disaster. We collaborate with the support of the ICRC, government institutions, and international organizations, as well as with Red Cross and Red Crescent societies worldwide.
  2. When Traditional Communication Is Interrupted (Red Cross Messaging): In situations where regular postal services or other means of communication are unavailable due to conflict, migration, or major disasters, the international Red Cross/Red Crescent network ensures the delivery of Red Cross Messages.
  3. When Contact Is Lost Due to Health Reasons (Welfare Request): The Red Cross will endeavor to obtain health and welfare reports on family members who are ill, elderly, or unable to communicate.
  4. Assistance with the Family Reunification Process: We can forward official documents, such as examination records and birth certificates, to minors and family members in conflict areas or other countries through the Red Cross network.
  5. Information and Referral: SLRCS can provide referrals to community organizations that offer services not within our acceptance criteria. We also offer referrals to agencies that handle cases falling outside the Red Cross mandate.
  6. Adoption Searches with the Department of Probation and Child Care: Our Tracing Service extends criteria to facilitate cases related to searching for biological parents of adopted children from Sri Lanka for partner national societies, enabling the transfer of cases to the Department of Probation and Child Care.

How to Access Tracing Services: 

  • If you reside outside of Sri Lanka, please contact your local Red Cross or Red Crescent office to make a request.
  • If you live in Sri Lanka, reach out to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Branch in your district to initiate a request.

To effectively assist you, SLRCS will require specific details about the missing person, such as their full name, parents’ names, date and place of birth, nationality, last known address, and the date and circumstances of their last news. Additionally, we will need your details, including your full name, address, relationship to the person sought, and date of birth.

In situations unrelated to migration, disasters, or conflict, SLRCS may process tracing requests on a humanitarian basis.