Saturday, January 8 2005 20:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government will observe State-wide mourning on Jan 12, 2005 to pay homage to nearly 8000 people who lost their lives due to the Tsunami waves that ravaged 13 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu on Dec 26, 2004.

The State Cabinet will meet at the secretariat at 10.30 hrs (IST) on that day, observe two minutes' silence in memory of those who lost their lives, before passing a condolence resolution, Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, said in a statement in Chennai tonight (Jan 8, 2005).

All schools, colleges, Government offices and public sector undertakings in the State would also observe two minutes' silence on that day. Private institutions had also been requested to follow suit.

At the all-party meet held in the city yesterday, a suggestion was made to the Government to observe a day's mourning in the State.

Accepting the suggestion, Jayalalithaa had said that a date would soon be finalised.

The State Government had spent nearly Rs 302.36 crore towards providing relief to the Tsunami-hit people.