Baby-81 undergoes DNA test in Sri Lanka

The tsunami-hit infant has been taken to a laboratory in Colombo for a DNA test that may help find his real parents.

A baby found under a pile of garbage after the tsunamis smashed into Sri Lanka in December and a couple who claim him as their own underwent genetic fingerprinting tests in Colombo on Wednesday following a court order.

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The boy, tagged "Baby-81" because he was the 81st patient admitted to the hospital in the eastern town of Kalmunai on December 26, the day the tsunamis struck, arrived at the Gene Tech laboratory escorted by two policemen.

Three nurses, a hospital administrator and a court registrar also made the near 12-hour drive from Kalmunai.

Junitha Jeyarajah, and her husband Murugpillai, the only couple claiming to be the parents of the four-month-old infant, arrived separately escorted by officials of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).

Media reports saying that nine couples were claiming the child have been denied by doctors, the courts and police.