The worst tsunami hitting Sri Lanka Sunday has killed 70 foreign tourists, including at least nine Japanese, the state tourist board said on Monday.

"We airlifted them yesterday and we are taking fingerprints at the moment," said an official from the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

He said most of them had died in the island's eastern part and officials were hampered by damaged communication lines in their rescue efforts.

The tsunami caused by the fourth greatest earthquake in history in Indonesia triggered floods that killed some 5,000 people and forced million to abandon their homes in the country.