Southern Province Education Director, N. J. Karunadasa said last week six principals and 11 teachers in the South were killed by the Tsunami waves.

"Five principals in Hambantota district and another in Galle district had lost their lives while nine female teachers in Hambantota and 2 male teachers in Matara had also perished" he said.

In the Galle district, principal of Hagalle Maha Vidyalaya, Ms. Seetha Chandraseeli de Silva (56) who had been preparing time tables for the new year, had died. In Hambantota district, principal of St. Mary's National School, Wijesiri Perera (51), principal of Zahira National school, Mohammad Riyaz (49), principal of Gonngahawa Maha Vidyalaya, Nandana Sri Lal (52), principal of Sippukulama Maha Vidyalaya, Pathmasiri Wijeweera (51) and Vice principal of H. L. Sumanawatee (49) had been killed.

The nine female teachers killed in Hambantota had been at the weekly fair when the Tsunami waves hit sweeping the vendors and all the others present into the sea. The dead bodies of the principals and teachers killed were recovered in the evening of December 26.