Jayarasa Abilash, a boy who was separated from his family during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, is now 20 years old and pursuing higher education. After being rescued and identified as 'Baby 81', he was reunited with his parents through a court battle involving multiple families who also claimed him. His story represents both the tragedy and hope that emerged from the disaster.
The boy once known as “Baby 81,” who was pulled from the mud as an infant after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and reunited with his parents following an emotional court battle, is now a 20-year-old dreaming of higher educationJayarasa Abilash, known as Baby 81 after he was swept away by the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami, stands in front of a monument built in memory of tsunami victims outside his residence with his father Murugupillai in Kurukkalmadam, Sri Lanka , Tuesday, Dec.
His father, Murugupillai Jayarasa, spent three days searching for his scattered family, with little left to his name in those early hours but a pair of shorts.A nurse had taken the baby from the hospital, but returned him after hearing that his family was alive. But none of the nine other families claimed the baby legally, and no DNA testing was done on them, Jayarasa said.
Soon, the family was reunited. Their story drew international media attention, and they even visited the United States for an interview. “I used to think ‘Here they have come’ and run inside and hide myself," he said as journalists returned to hear his story again.“I consoled him saying, 'Son, you are unique in being the only one to have such a name in this world," he said.
His family was excluded from many of the tsunami relief and reconstruction programs because government officials assumed they had received money during their visit to the U.S.
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