SRI LANKA: INFANT KNOWN AS BABY 81 ARRIVES FOR DNA TESTING TO DETERMINE HIS REAL PARENTS

Record ID: 647412

  • Title: SRI LANKA: INFANT KNOWN AS BABY 81 ARRIVES FOR DNA TESTING TO DETERMINE HIS REAL PARENTS
  • Date: 10th February 2005
  • Summary: (BN6) COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (FEBRUARY 9, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV AMBULANCE ARRIVING WITH BABY81; MV NURSE HOLDING BABY 81; MV POLICE IN AMBULANCE; SCU BABY CRYING (5 SHOTS) 0.24 2. MV MEDIA; MV NURSE CARRYING BABY INTO MEDICAL CENTRE SURROUNDED BY MEDIA; MV COUPLE CLAIMING PARENTAGE OF BABY 81 WALKING IN WITH UN OFFICIAL 0.48 3. SCU COUPLE SEATED ZOOM OUT 0.59 (BN06)COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (FEBRUARY 7, 2005) (REUTERS) 4. SOUNDBITE (English) UNICEF SPOKESMAN GEOFF KEELL SAYING: "I think what is important to remember with this case is that it is a very sad case. This is a family that has lost everything, their home their furniture everything that they have and whether they are or are not the actual parents of this child, it's important to remember that they have been through an incredible amount of trauma and right now the intense media interest is actually making matters worse for them and they are really breaking down under all this intense media scrutiny and pressure. So they've just simply asked to be left alone until the DNA testing is taken care of and we're just trying to help them where ever we can." 1.29 (BN09)COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (FEBRUARY 9, 2005) (REUTERS) 9. MV "GENTECH" SIGN 1.36 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 25th February 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Reuters ID: LVA1CJFZ1MLHRIBNZTB91ZMP77ZX
  • Story Text: Baby 81 arrives in Colombo for DNA testing to
    determine his real parents.

    Baby 81 arrived in Sri Lanka's capital for DNA
    tests on Wednesday (February 9, 2005) to a barrage of media
    awaiting his arrival at the medical centre.

    The infant became known as "Baby 81" because the
    three-month old was the 81st person to be brought to the
    Kalmunai hospital the day the tsunami struck and killed
    about 40,000 Sri Lankans.

    "Baby 81" miraculously survived the giant waves that
    thrashed his village and was found amidst the debris by
    rescuers.

    Newspaper reports have said nine women have claimed the
    boy as their son in the aftermath of the December 26, 2004
    tsunami.

    Murugupillai Jeyarajah, a 31-year-old barber, and his
    wife, Jenita, lodged a formal court claim last month. They
    say documents proving their parentage were lost in the
    tsunami.

    The local hospital which has been caring for "Baby 81",
    as the infant is known, asked the district judge to
    determine the boy's parentage with a DNA test.

    Health officials involved in the tests, which is being
    overseen by UNICEF say results will be out in seven days to
    finally determine who his real parents are.

    The baby is under police guard at the hospital after the
    parents tried to forcibly take the child away.

    "I think what is important to remember with this case is
    that it is a very sad case. This is a family that has lost
    everything, their home their furniture everything that the
    have and whether they are or are not the actual parents of
    this child, it's important to remember that they have been
    through an incredible amount of trauma and right now the
    intense media interest is actually making matters worse for
    them and they are really breaking down under all this
    intense media scrutiny and pressure. So they've just simply
    asked to be left alone until the DNA testing is taken care
    of and we're just trying to help them where ever we can,"
    said UNICEF spokesman Geoff Keell.

    Others had expressed interest in adopting the baby if
    his real parents were not found, police said.


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