Where Are They?

Sri Lanka's tsunami orphans could be further traumatized unless they are quickly reunited with their surviving relatives, rights organisations warned amid calls to put them up for adoption.



Sri Lanka's tsunami orphans could be further traumatized unless they are quickly reunited with their surviving relatives, rights organisations warned amid calls to put them up for adoption. The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) says there are 814 boys and girls who lost at least one parent in three out of the nine districts badly hit by the December 26 tsunamis.

At least 100 of them lost both parents, an NCPA spokesman said, adding that they were conducting surveys in other areas to get a better idea of the extent of those left parentless.

There has been an outpouring of sympathy for the orphans, including from President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Shortly after the tsunami disaster, Kumaratunga said the most moving moment for her on a visit to the devastated eastern regions was coming face-to-face with a young girl who had lost her entire family.

"She had lost her mother, father, brothers and sisters ...

everybody," the president said. "I wanted to bring her with me.







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