Sri Lanka, Dec. 19 -- The Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, has announced plans to amend the Tsunami Act to secure the legal guardianship of children left orphaned by recent natural disasters.

Speaking on the welfare of those affected, Minister Paulraj revealed that 73 children under the age of eighteen have lost either one or both parents in the recent emergencies.

To ensure their long-term care, the government intends to update the 21-year-old legislation-originally drafted following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami-to provide a clear legal framework for guardianship.

Priority will be given to close relatives wishing to take in the children; otherwise, they will be placed under the care of the Probation Depar...