Dec 26, Colombo: As a nation Sri Lanka today observed a two-minute silence at 9:25 a.m. in remembrance of all those who lost their lives in natural disasters, including the deadliest tsunami in 2004.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa observed a two-minute silence at the President's House today to remember those who died in the tsunami and other natural disasters.

According to statistics 41,000 people lost their lives in Sri Lanka and 1.5 million lost their homes when the island was struck by the tsunami resulted from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake in Indonesia on December 26, 2004.

The major disaster occurred when the southbound Queen of the Sea (Samudra Devi) train plying along the coastal rail line with around 1500 passengers onboard got washed away by the killer waves near Peraliya area in Hikkaduwa killing all but a few passengers.

After 4 years the repaired engine of the train commenced its new journey this morning heading towards Matara reportedly reaching the unfortunate spot precisely at 9:25 a.m.

Railway sources said the train had stopped for two minutes from 9:25 a.m. to 9:27 a.m., to commemorate its deadly experience on December 26, 2004.

Various commemorative functions are to be held throughout the country today, especially in coastal areas during the day. The government has declared today as the National Safety Day.