Repatriation from Singapore to Sri Lanka

For a Sri Lankan, the Sri Lanka High Commission must give prior approval before the remains leave Singapore, and a no-objection letter is issued. Contact them as soon as the death occurs. Whichever embassy covers the deceased's own nationality must also be told.

• Write to the High Commission with the contact details of two close relatives. The High Commission informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo, which gets an affidavit from a relative in Sri Lanka. • Once the instructions come back, the High Commission tells the family in Singapore to proceed. The family bears all costs. • The approval request goes to the Airport Health Office through the airline or SriLankan Airlines Cargo, with the documents listed. • Registering the death at the High Commission is a separate application: S$30, cash only, within three months of the death. It needs proof the deceased was a Sri Lankan citizen, the declarant's ID, the birth certificate, and the Singapore death certificate. • Ask the High Commission whether the COVID-19 test report in its list is still required. It may be out of date.

The High Commission only deals with Sri Lankan citizens. For anyone else, ask the Sri Lankan authorities directly.

Sending remains: • Death certificate, with the name matching the passport • Embalming certificate • Coffin sealing certificate • NEA coffin export permit (your funeral director applies for it) • Passport or travel document of the deceased • No-objection letter from the Sri Lanka High Commission • Original passport of the deceased, handed to the High Commission for cancellation • Contact details of two close relatives (in Singapore or Sri Lanka)

Sending ashes: • Death certificate • Cremation certificate • Urn sealing certificate • Passport or travel document of the deceased

Kenneth coordinates the Singapore side: the funeral director, embalming and sealing (for remains), the NEA coffin export permit (for remains), the booking with the airline cargo, and the paperwork above. Delivery is to Colombo Bandaranaike (CMB) airport cargo.

Not included: the journey from the airport to the home town, and any prayers or wake held in Singapore before departure. Those are separate and are paid for by the family. For a Work Permit holder or a domestic helper, Singapore's Ministry of Manpower puts the cost of returning the body on the employer, so the employer arranges it. See Sending a Body or Ashes Overseas for the Singapore side in detail.