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| Wednesday, 29 December 2004 |
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by Anjana Gamage A shuttle service was commenced yesterday by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) to assist the evacuation of foreign tourists from the affected areas, an SLTB spokeswoman told the Daily News. According to the sources, two shuttle services were operated by road yesterday at 4.00pm and 7.00pm between Colombo and the affected coastal areas of Galle, Hikkaduwa and Bentota for the rescue mission. "We are in the process of bringing them back to Colombo. We are also making arrangements at the BMICH, to assist them with their travel documents. Some foreign tourists have already misplaced or lost their travel documents." A travel desk has been opened at the BMICH for the purpose of attending to the travel plans of the affected tourists. "From the BMICH we will send them to the Bandaranaike International Airport where they will be boarded to various airlines including Sri Lanka," she said. The sources said that so far 2,000 tourists who had been trapped in the disaster hit areas were evacuated to Colombo by the authorities yesterday and are now sheltered in the several city hotels and also at the BMICH as well. Two hundred tourists from different destinations have left the island while 73 foreign tourists have been confirmed dead so far. A large number of tourists are reported missing or injured in Sunday's tidal wave disaster, according to Tourist Board Sources. Meanwhile the SLTB has established a 24 hour hotline to provide information on foreign tourists in Sri Lanka to their relatives and friends abroad. Those who want to obtain information can dial the hotline: 94-11-2437061 or the hunting line: 94-11-4740220. |
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