28 December 2004 – Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Jose Lino B. Guerrero reported to Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo that there are no Filipino casualties in the tsunami that struck Sri Lanka and the Maldives on 26 December 2004.  The Island republic of Sri Lanka and the archipelago of Maldives are under the diplomatic jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

In his report, Ambassador Guerrero informed the Secretary that the Philippine Embassy is closely monitoring the tsunami-related developments in Bangladesh Sri Lanka and the Maldives.  According to Ambassador Guerrero, “Bangladesh is relatively safe and that no Filipino casualties have been reported.”

Ambassador Guerrero further informs that most Filipinos in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, have left the area before the disaster, either to spend the holidays in the Philippines or in the hill area like Candy, the former capital of Sri Lanka.  “Our Honorary Consul in Colombo assures us that our countrymen are safe,” Ambassador Guerrero said.

Ambassador Guerrero has also received information from the management of major hotels and resorts in the Maldives, such the Four Seasons Resort, and has been assured that the Filipinos employed there are “anxious but no one has been harmed.”

Secretary Romulo instructed the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka to continue monitoring the situation and to extend assistance to any Filipino in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives that might be affected by the disaster or might want to be repatriated.  END.