INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Pulled from the mud as an infant after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and reunited with his parents following an emotional
the families torn apart by one of the worst natural calamities in modern history, but it also offered hope
More than 35,000 people in Sri Lanka were killed, with others missing.The 2-month-old baby was washed away by the tsunami in eastern Sri
Lanka and found some distance from home by rescuers
At the hospital, he was No
81 on the admissions registry.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.First he found his mother, then his wife
But their infant son was missing
A nurse had taken the baby from the hospital, but returned him after hearing that his family was alive.The ordeal, however, was far from
hand over the child to Jayarasa and his wife without proof.The family went to the police
The judge ordered a DNA test, a process that was still in its early stages in Sri Lanka.But none of the nine other families claimed the baby
Jayarasa said his family gave DNA samples and it was proven the child was theirs.Soon, the family was reunited
Their story drew international media attention, and they even visited the US for an interview.Today, Abilash is sitting for his final high
Solid and good-natured, he hopes to attend a university to study information technology.He said he grew up hearing about his story from his
read more about the events that tore him from his family and brought him back, and he lost his fear.He knows the nickname will follow him
frantic, searching days 20 years ago remain fresh, even as others fade.Over the years, the extensive publicity his family received has also
affected them negatively, Jayarasa said.His family was excluded from many of the tsunami relief and reconstruction programmes because
government officials assumed they had received money during their visit to the US.The experience also led to jealousy, gossiping and
ostracising of the family in their neighbourhood, forcing them to relocate.The father wants his son and other family members to remain
grateful for their survival, and he wants Abilash to become someone who can help others in need.From time the boy was a toddler, his father
collected small amounts of money from his work at a hairdressing shop
When Abilash turned 12, the family erected a small memorial to victims of the tsunami in their front yard
