THE HAVOC CAUSED BY THE CYCLONE WHICH HIT NORTHERN CEYLON ON DECEMBER 23RD WAS UNPARALLELED IN THE ISLAND'S HISTORY, AND MAY TAKE DECADES TO REPAIR. IT IS FEARED THAT MORE THAN 450 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND THOUSANDS RENDERED HOMELESS, WITH DAMAGE UNOFFICIALLY ESTIMATED AT NEARLY 225 MILLION RUPEES (ABOUT GBP16,800,000).

ONE OF THE WORST AREAS IN THE NORTH WAS AT TALAIMANNAR AND MANNAR -- A LOWLYING AREA. THERE GREAT TIDAL WAVES, DRIVEN BY THE FORCE OF THE LASHING GALES, DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF HOMES, AND WASHED ROADS AND RAILWAY LINES AWAY. TALAIMANNAR PIER, A POINT FROM WHERE THE FERRY SERVICE LEAVES FOR INDIA, WAS ALMOST TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE FERRY BOAT, "S.S. GOSCHEN MADRAS", WAS THROWN UP ONTO THE BEACH BY THE WAVES.

HOWEVER THE LOSS OF LIFE THERE WAS NEGLIGIBLE COMPARED WITH JAFFNA, FURTHER NORTH. OFFICIAL ESTIMATES REPORT THAT 400 FISHERMAN DIED AT SEA AND ABOUT 700 BOATS OF THE FISHING FLEET WERE LOST.

FURTHER TO THE EAST, AT TRINCOMALEE, THE PORT THAT HANDLES 70 PER CENT OF THE ISLAND'S TEA EXPORTS, HUNDREDS OF LIGHTERS AND BARGES WERE SMASHER,AND JETTIES, PIERS AND WAREHOUSES DAMAGED. THE MINESWEEPER "VIJAYA" AND SEVERAL SMALLER SHIPS OF THE CEYLON NAVY WERE WRECKED IN THE 115 MILES-AN-HOUR (185 KM) WINDS.

HUNDREDS OF RED CROSS WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE CARRYING OUT RELIEF WORK ON THE ISLAND, AND AID IS POURING INTO THE DEVASTATED AREAS. GIFTS OF FOOD, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, BUILDING MATERIALS AND FISHING EQUIPMENT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROMISED FROM ABROAD.

(IT HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY ESTIMATED THAT ANOTHER 500 PEOPLE DIED WHEN THE CYCLONE HIT THE INDIAN ISLAND OF RAMESWARAM, BETWEEN CEYLON AND THE MAINLAND.