Couple arrested over tsunami baby

Junitha Jeyarajah holds Baby 81 at the Kalmunai hospital

A Sri Lankan couple who say they are the parents of a tsunami "miracle baby" have been arrested after allegedly trying to snatch him from hospital.

A court in the eastern town of Kalmunai had earlier ordered a DNA test to determine the parents of "Baby 81".

Murugupillai Jeyarajah and wife Junitha stormed into the hospital to claim the baby. They were later freed on bail.

The baby became a symbol of tsunami suffering after it was found under debris and claimed by nine couples.

However, police say the Jeyarajahs alone have made a formal legal claim.

The Jeyarajahs had broken down in tears in the packed courtroom when the DNA ruling was announced.

This is not justice Junitha Jeyarajah In pictures: Snatch drama

The couple were briefly held after the alleged snatch attempt on Wednesday. A district judge ordered them to return to court on Thursday.

Two others held with them remain in custody.

Police inspector Jameel Alm had earlier told the AFP news agency: "The medical superintendent of the hospital and a few other members filed a complaint that the parents tried to grab the baby.

"It cannot be allowed because the court has ordered the baby be kept in the custody of the hospital until the DNA tests are done."

"Baby 81" is so named because he was the 81st patient to be admitted to the hospital on the day the tsunami struck.

Mrs Jeyarajah said after the court ruling: "There is no need for a DNA test, this is our son. This is not justice."

The couple and a large crowd of supporters then marched to the local hospital where the baby has been kept.

Symbol

Earlier the Jeyarajahs said they were confident of being united with the four-month-old boy, who they maintain is their son, Abhilasha, born on 19 October 2004.

The court had ordered two weeks ago that the baby be handed to his parents as soon he was well enough. Doctors said then he was too ill to be discharged from hospital.

The couple visited a Hindu temple before arriving at court, reports say.

"Baby 81" has become the visible face of the tsunami

"We could not sleep the whole night. We were talking about our baby," the Associated Press quoted Mrs Jeyarajah as saying.

"We have told our God [to] please give us back our baby."

Baby 81 has become a visible symbol of the disaster that hit Sri Lanka and other Asian countries on 26 December.

Many believe the huge media attention sparked a lot of interest in the child, with some coming forward to claim him as their own.

Now many want his ordeal to end.

"This baby has gone through enough trouble," police inspector HMP Herath told AP.

"Time has now come for him to go home."

More than 30,000 people were killed by the tsunami in Sri Lanka. Children are believed to make up about 40% of the dead.

The tsunami left about 1,000 orphans in the country, according to data quoted by the UN's children's charity, Unicef.