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What could be the source for the final death toll? Does that include the dead AND missing, as well?
Sri Lanka this week commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami by recalling the memories of the 36,500 who perished.
Peraliya
Two minutes of silence was observed from 9. 25a.m. to 9. 27a.m in their memory.
Sri Lanka was the hardest hit after Indonesia.
The main event was held at Telwatta Tsunami Memorial, Peraliya, nearwhere a train with eight carriages and a locomotive was overturned by the waves killing 1,270. It is regarded as the worst single rail disaster in history. The train was on its way to Matara from Pettah.
The refurbished engine number 50 which was destroyed on December 26, 2004, made a symbolic trip to Peraliya on Friday. Floral tributes were then placed in memory of the tsunami victims by the engine driver and guards from the locomotive who had survived. Relatives of victims also placed flowers.
The people of the Hambantota District held a ‘National Safety Day’ event in remembrance of victims at the main Hambantota bus stand.
Traffic stopped for two minutes. Religious rites were then performed. Over 1,600 families and nearly 66,900 people were affected in this district alone.
Events were also held in Ambalangoda, Galle, and Batticaloa Districts.
A Japanese cultural commemoration took place at Magalla, south of Galle, under the patronage of the Chief Incumbent of the Japanese Peace Pagoda in Rumassala Ven. Asami Thera. It was organised by students of Hiroshan Japanese Language School in Galle.
The staff and students of the school floated candle-lit lanterns into the river near Magalla bridge in Galle, following a ritual ‘tōrō nagashi, held to remember the dead in Japan.
Pix by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi, Gamini Mahadura and Sirangika Lokukarawita
Hambantota
Unawatuna