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| Tuesday, 18 January 2005 |
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by Manjula Fernando The Government yesterday raised the tsunami death toll to 38,195, a 7,000 increase from the last week's 31,000 body count. Public Security, Law and Order Ministry Secretary Tilak Ranaviraja said they were still pulling bodies from the rubble and about five to six bodies were being unearthed everyday. "We expect the death toll to reach 40,000," he said adding that still there were over 6,000 missing after the tsunami waves lashed the coastal areas of the country's Southern, Northern and Eastern parts three weeks ago. He also said they suspect the death toll in the North and East to be much higher than the reported 8,000. "Already six US aircraft which assisted us in the relief distribution and rescue missions have sought our permission to leave the country," he said adding that the deployment of these units was solely at the discretion of the Chief of Joint Operations. The US has expressed that they wish to confine their relief assistance by military units only to South. However, a US medical team is assisting the doctors in Point Pedro. According to the Secretary 255 aircraft have landed here bringing relief goods to Sri Lanka from 58 countries. |
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