Colombo (PTI): Even as several ethnic Indians wait to attain Sri Lankan citizenship, the Indian mission here has offered to help trace their roots for a fee of Rs 20,000.

People of Indian-origin desirous of the service can access the programme "Tracing the Roots", designed by The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affair, by providing minute details including nick names or stories about their ancestors to facilitate tracing out their roots.

"Persons of Indians origin desirous of tracing their roots in India would be required to fill up the prescribed application form and deposit it with this High Commission along with a fee of Indian Rupees 20,000," a High Commission statement said.

The Ministry has signed an MOU with Indiroots and would forward the applications with all supporting documents to it.

The NGO will prepare a family tree comprising details of the roots in India (where traceable) such as names of close surviving relatives and details of the place of origin of their forefathers (paternal and maternal side) and submit it to the Ministry approximately within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the application by it.

The information received from Indiroots, including the family tree prepared by it, would then be sent to the High Commission for onward transmission to the applicant.

In case of any doubt over the genuineness of the roots, the decision of the Ministry, taken in consultation with the applicant and Indiroots will be final and binding on the NGO, the statement said