National Safety Day commemorated today [December 26 2014]

The National Safety Day is commemorated today (December 26) under the theme "Safety Sri Lanka- let us unite to eradicate disasters,” to mark the 10th Tsunami catastrophe that claimed over 40, 000 lives in 2004.

The national event was held in Hambantota this morning, organised under the Ministry of Disaster Management and arrangements were made to hold island-wide commemorative events.

Indian Ocean Tsunami catastrophe struck 13 out of 14 coastal districts in the country making the worst ever natural disaster. The Southern, Western, Eastern and Northern provinces of the country bore the brunt of the disaster.

Approximately 35, 000 lives were lost while 5, 000 were reported missing and 95, 000 others were deprived of their livelihoods.