The Sri Lankan government raised the tsunami death toll to 38,195, a 7,000 increase from the last week's 31,000 body count, official Daily News said on Tuesday.

Public Security, Law and Order Ministry Secretary Tilak Ranaviraja said they were still pulling bodies from the rubble andabout five to six bodies were being unearthed everyday.

"We expect the death toll to reach 40,000," he said, adding that still there were over 6,000 missing after the tsunami waves lashed the coastal areas of the country's Southern, Northern and Eastern parts three weeks ago.

Source: Xinhua