National Tsunami Remembrance Held at Peraliya Memorial

28-Dec-2025

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A two-minute silence was observed nationwide yesterday to commemorate those who died in the 2004 tsunami disaster. Special events were held at the Peraliya Tsunami Memorial under the coordination of the Disaster Management Centre.

Commemorations were also held in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, with floral tributes and oil lamps lit in memory of victims.

The Peraliya train tragedy of Dec 16, 2004, in which over 2,000 passengers died, was also remembered. A special train operated toward Galle at 6:00 a.m., though the original “Menik” engine was not used due to damage.

Over 35,000 people were killed and more than 5,000 went missing in the 2004 tsunami. December 26 is being observed annually as National Safety Day since 2005.