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| Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
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Foreign victims of tsunami by Jaympathy Jayasinghe Police have launched a massive recovery operation under the directions of IGP Chandra Fernando to unearth evidence regarding the disappearance of persons including foreign nationals presumed to have drowned following the Tusami disaster on December 26. IGP Chandra Fernando said at a recent media conference that pressure was being exerted by relatives of missing foreign nationals and Insurance companies to find evidence regarding missing persons to expedite settlement of insurance and other compensation claims. For this purpose it was necessary to seek the advice of forensic experts both foreign and locals to establish the identity of persons. He said a large number of policemen drawn from various police stations have been mobilised to gather evidence of missing persons whose job had become difficult due to clearance of rubble that had destroyed evidence. Meanwhile DIG Crimes and Intelligence Jayantha Wickremaratne said that search teams engaged in recovery operations have found US Dollars Rs 800, jewellery items, compact dics, bracelets, identity cards, passports of foreign nationals unearthed from the rubble found in Tsunami affected areas of Kalmunai, Meetiyagoda, Galle, Yala and Hikkaduwa areas. In addition 54 unclaimed vehicles have been found in Kathankudi, Galle, Habaraduwa, Payagala, Weligama, Panadura South, Wadduwa, Tissamaharama, Hikkaduwa, Ahangama areas. Owners of these vehicles have been requested to call over at respective police stations with relevant documents to claim ownership. Personnel belongings of passengers of the ill fated train which was swept away at Kahawa by the Tsunami tidal wave and belonging of natives from Pottuvil, Kalkudah, Eravur have been found. The items include jewellery, national identity cards, passports, driving licenses, and service permits, Bank saving books which have been brought to the 3rd floor of the Police Headquarters in Colombo. Relatives of dead persons should call over at the Police Headquarters on any weekday between 11.am -4.p.m.to claim these items. Further inquiries could be made on the following Telephone numbers 011-2433671, 011-2421111, 011-233333390, 011-2421111. Meanwhile the Interpol Headquarters in Paris will set up a computer network in Colombo linking South East Asia and Paris for exchange of information regarding victims of the Tsunami disaster. The centre will be manned by four officials of the Interpol based in Colombo. They will be assisted by officials of the Criminal Investigation Department. According to police reports the number of dead foreign nationals have risen to 69. Special containers with freezers to preserve dead bodies of Tsunami victims have arrived from abroad accompanied by forensic experts from many parts of the world. Several DNA tests to identify victims have been conducted by them. Meanwhile the following numbers of nationals have been found dead, missing, hospitalised or traced. Statistics of foreign tsunami victims deaths missing hospi traced talised USA 2 0 1 0 Australian 0 0 3 0 Austrian 2 0 1 0 Belgian 0 0 2 0 British 2 0 31 0 Canadian 1 0 1 0 Denmark 0 0 1 0 Dutch 0 0 3 0 French 0 0 3 0 German 3 0 16 0 Indian 11 0 1 0 Irish 0 1 0 0 Italian 1 0 3 0 Japanese 0 0 12 0 Nepalese 0 1 0 0 North Ireland 0 1 0 0 Norwegian 0 0 4 0 Philippine 0 0 1 0 Scottish 0 0 1 0 Swedish 0 0 0 1 Swiss 0 0 0 1 Thai 0 0 1 0 Not mentioned19 0 0 0 Total 41 3 85 2 |
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