US Secretary of State Colin Powell will pay a short visit to tsunami-ravaged Sri Lankan on Friday, the US Embassy in Colombo said Thursday.

Powell is scheduled to arrive in Colombo at noontime on Friday and leave the country after about three hours, said an official from the US Embassy.

He will meet Sri Lankan leaders for talks on the rehabilitation and reconstruction effort. Powell earlier visited the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington and expressed his condolences.

US President George W. Bush, who has announced 350 million US dollar aid package for the tsunami-ravaged nations, also signed the condolence book at the embassy along with former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush.

Powell is among top international figures visiting the country to assess the tsunami damage and reconstruction needs. World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn will visit Sri Lanka on the weekend of Jan. 8-9.

Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan will also be here on the weekend.

The Sri Lankan government confirmed that 30,240 people were killed in the tsunami while 15,683 were injured. It said 833,780 people lost their houses in the tsunami.

Source: Xinhua