On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 10:00 am, the Appeals Court of Amsterdam will hear the case brought by Dilani Butink against the Dutch State and an interdediary organisation for her adoption from Sri Lanka. The hearing is open to the public.
In 2022, the Court of Appeal in The Hague ruled that both the mediation organization and the State had acted unlawfully towards Dilani. In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeal in The Hague had insufficiently substantiated its ruling or had misinterpreted the law by not taking all relevant factors into account in its ruling. With regard to the State, the Supreme Court ruled that, based on the applicable regulations, the State was not obliged to thoroughly assess whether the mediation organization complied with the legal requirements in a specific adoption case. The Supreme Court referred the proceedings to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, which must now reassess the actions of the mediation organization and the State.
Dilani is represented by Lisa-Marie Komp and Chris Dekkers.
[Photos: [left] Dilani Butink in Sri Lanka, awaiting adoption (1992) [right] Dilani Butink. Source: private collection DB]
Previously
- Supreme Court: case about illegal 'adoption' of Dilani Butink from Sri Lanka referred back to the Appeals Court in Amsterdam
- Court of Appeal rules: Dutch State and an intermediary organization acted unlawfully towards adopted woman
- Appeal hearing in case of wrongful adoption from Sri Lanka
- Children who have been illegally adopted hold the Dutch government to account
- Dutch State and adoption agency sued by unlawfully adopted woman
- Court hearing in case about unlawful adoption from Sri Lanka