Tailored funeral arrangements & additional services.

Nothing is either too big or too small for us in our endeavor to carry out your every wish with regards to the funeral service. Our reputation for being able to tailor the funeral ceremony to exact needs is one of the many reasons why families have chosen us over our competitors.

Available 24-7 365 days a year.

Please know that we are here to serve you at your time of need. We go beyond our call of duty to guide you on ANY matter you may require at this time of need. Whether it be information on locating your Registrar's office, or any procedures which need to be followed. If it is not an area within our expertise, we will do our best to refer you to relevant experts and points of information. Contact us at any time>

Funeral related services.

Find a list of vendors we recommend for funeral related services you may require, such as catering, transport, accommodation etc. Find out more>>

Death of foreign nationals

When a loved one passes away in Sri Lanka, the best place for their final goodbye could be here or in their country of birth. With our wealth of experience over 130 years, there is almost no country we haven't dealt with before. All it takes is a phone call to start the process.Find out more>>

Obituary notices.

Register to receive obituary notices via email or SMS. You can also look up notices listed on our site. Find out more>>

Watch funeral ceremony online.

If you are unable to attend the funeral ceremony as you are overseas or for any other reason, you can now view the funeral webcast through our website. Find out more>>

Plan your funeral ahead of time.

It makes good practical and financial sense. Find out more>>

Should I attend?

Only you know how much you cared for the diseased, and therefore a personal decision you should make. It could become a time for people to express their love and respect to the deceased and to get some personal closure and healing.

Should I visit the bereaved or wait for an invitation?

Not only is it good funeral etiquette but it is common courtesy and caring to call on the bereaved to offer sympathy and help. If they are overwhelmed with grief or visitors, make it a short visit. If you know them well, take over the tea making and handling of the guests and ease the burden of having to cope with grief and visitors at the same time.

What should you say?

Words from the heart are more important than anything. Think about any good memories or experiences you had with the deceased, or even write your own about the person that you know the family would like to hear. Family and loved ones usually just need to talk and express their feelings. Let them talk as much as they need without asking too many questions. They are not necessarily looking for a response from you. They are trying to understand what has happened and in their own way come to terms with the fact their loved one has gone. Just be there for them and if they are the type who usually embrace or kiss when greeting, a warm hug will be appreciated.

Is it appropriate to phone the family?

It is good etiquette to phone the family as soon as possible to offer your sympathy. Try to keep the call brief as others will probably be trying to call as well. Also, the family will more than likely be busy with visitors and funeral arrangements.

Is it appropriate to send an e-mail offering condolences?

Condolences via e-mail are appropriate only if you are not a close friend or relative of the family. But generally speaking, it is not good funeral etiquette to send an email, a hand written note or card would be more appropriate.

Is it an expected that I send flowers?

First check the funeral notice in the newspaper or phone the funeral home. If people request donations should be made in lieu of flowers, you should respect their wishes.
If there are no such requests, flowers can be a great comfort to the family. If the deceased was very popular or well known, too many flowers can be overwhelming. You need to exercise your own judgment here.

What type of flowers, where to send?

1. Wreaths and sprays should only be sent to the funeral home and never the deceased person's home.
2. Placing flowers on the casket is a privilege and tradition reserved for the family of the loved one.
3. If sending flowers to the family home, go with an arrangement that comes with a self-contained water vessel. This will save them the hassle of fussing over and maintaining the flowers in a time of grieving where such small tasks may get overlooked.
4. If you are unsure about what color funeral to send, then stick with pastels, as they are a soft safe option.

Flower Etiquette for different religions and customs?

There are different protocols observed for each religion and faith. They are as follows:

1. It is accepted to give flowers in the following faiths: Baha'i, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian, Mormon and Eastern Orthodox. For Mormons, flowers arranged in the shape of a crucifix or a cross is not acceptable. White flowers are preferred if the religion is Eastern Orthodox.
2. Check with the family if the deceased is Islamic or Hindu, as there are varying practices within the religion of giving flowers.
3. If you are still unsure about the process associated with the deceased's family, ask the funeral home or the family's religious or cultural leader for advice. Many florists and online dealers are usually well versed in all aspects of funeral etiquette and may also be able to guide you in selecting the right arrangement.

Food for the bereaved family

During the days immediately following the death the family is usually too overwhelmed to carry on the normal everyday living chores, such as cooking and cleaning. So food would be more than welcome.But, before just bringing containers of food, check with the family to see what other people are bringing. Some people also make a cash donation to families who have suffered a loss to help them cover the cost of the services.

Should a child attend a funeral?

Immediately after the funeral, the family sometimes invites the attendees to join them for food or a reception at their home or designated place. This gives everyone a chance to talk and provides some time to relax and refresh. Attending this gathering without invitation would be considered bad etiquette. Sometimes friends or church members will take it upon themselves to prepare food ahead of time for this gathering to relieve the family of this task.

Should a child attend a funeral?

There are no hard and fast rules in funeral etiquette that dictate whether children should or should not attend a funeral. Any form of inconsiderate or disruptive behaviour would be considered extremely bad etiquette and in poor taste. Therefore parents should keep in mind the fact that all little ones can be quite noisy and disruptive and a funeral is not the appropriate time or place for this to be happening.

Should the child make the decision?

If the child was close to the deceased it is fine for the child to attend if he or she feels comfortable doing so. If the child is old enough, leave the decision up to them. However, make sure the child really understands what you are discussing and what is happening. Don't be afraid to ask questions and encourage the child to talk openly. The actual burial could be an upsetting experience for a child who has no idea what is happening or what to expect