Probe into 'tsunami child'

Rafik Jalaldeen

Investigations are on to find out weather a five year old boy in police custody was a victim of tsunami or adopted by a youth, Horowpathana OIC IP W.P.A. Fernando said.

Following a tip off Horowpathana police raided a house and arrested a 19 year old youth with a five year old boy yesterday.

"The youth was planning to take the boy to his brother in Hikkaduwa who had got married recently," IP Fernando told the Daily News.

"During interrogation the suspect said he had adopted the boy three years ago from a woman who had arrived from Middle East and given birth.

The suspect said he brought up the boy with his mother's help who died recently.

He said his sister married a man in Horowpathana and had been taking care of the boy since then," IP Fernando added.

IP Fernando said preliminary investigations revealed the youth was living in Hikkaduwa and his mother had not been looking after child until she died.

"Investigation also revealed that no relative of the youth who had worked in the Middle East had given birth," he said.

He pointed out comparing with the duration of adoption and the place where the youth works, the child could be a tsunami victim. The youth and the child are under police custody until March 25.

Horowpathana police are investigating.