Sri Lanka will observe a two-minute silence island-wide today(26) to mark 21 years since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.

The silence will be observed from 9.25 am to 9.27 am in memory of those who died in the tsunami and other disasters.

More than 35,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka, with around 5,000 reported missing. December 26 has been observed as National Safety Day since 2005.

The main commemoration is being held at the Peraliya Tsunami Memorial in Galle.