Couple's bliss after baby reunion

A formal reunion will not take place until Wednesday

The Sri Lankan couple reunited with their baby seven weeks after the tsunami separated them have spoken of their joy.

Jenita and Murugupillai Jeyarajah paid an emotional visit to their four-month-old son in hospital after DNA tests proved they were his parents.

"My darling... Oh my darling... we will soon go home," said a tearful Jenita.

The baby became a symbol of tsunami suffering when he survived in December. Eight other couples wanted him.

He was dubbed "Baby 81" - the 81st patient to be admitted to hospital in the eastern town of Kalmunai on 26 December.

'Feelings and emotions'

The couple hugged and kissed their son, Abilasha, during their brief visit to the hospital.

Correspondents say the family will formally be reunited in court on Wednesday.

For the last 68 days we were so dejected, we couldn't sleep and only ate once a day Murugupillai Jeyarajah

"In two days we will go home my darling... do not worry. We will soon go home," Jenita said, kissing her child's hands, cheeks and forehead.

"We are really thankful to the BBC because it gave immediate news about the child and also interviewed us about our feelings and emotions," she told the BBC's Tamil service.

Her husband - who threatened to commit suicide if made to take part in DNA tests - said he was relieved that the ordeal was over.

"We were so depressed that we couldn't take our own baby. Maybe it is the will of the God that his parentage should be decided by DNA test," Mr Jeyarajah said.

"We are so delighted with the news. We want to give him a good education. We will do whatever he wants," he said.

Smiles and applause

Earlier Jenita told the Associated Press that if the couple got their son back, she would fulfil vows to smash 100 coconuts at a temple of the elephant-headed Hindu god, Ganesh.

In addition she was reported to have made a pledge to offer sweet rice to the warrior god, Murugan, and kill a cockerel for the goddess Kali.

More than 990 children in Sri Lanka lost both parents in the tsunami

In hospital, patients, visitors and hospital nurses smiled and applauded as the joyous couple tossed Abilasha in the air and kissed him during the brief reunion.

The boy had survived the giant waves for nearly 10 hours and was found under a garbage pile by a neighbour of the couple who handed him over to the hospital.

A court ordered the DNA tests following reports that nine mothers who lost their babies in the tsunamis claimed to be his parents. But none of them pressed their claim in court.

Hospital staff also said they were happy that the dispute had been resolved.

"A little sadness is there... but then they are the rightful parents so we are happy that the child will be in safe hands," a nurse who had cared for the baby told AFP.

"We were always anxious that the baby should go to the real parents and that is happening now. So we are okay."

Figures released by the commissioner of probation and child care, Sarath Abeygunawardena, show that 995 children in Sri Lanka lost both parents in the disaster, while another 3,409 lost at least one.