Sri Lanka has called for international assistance in the face of the country's worst ever humanitarian disaster, the Sri Lankan president office said Sunday.

The death toll of Sunday tidal wave devastation which hit the eastern and southern coasts had crossed 1,500 mark by mid afternoon.

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga who was on a privatevisit to Britain is to cut short her visit and to return to Sri Lanka, the president office said.

Massive tidal waves had hit the country's eastern and southern coasts Sunday morning with devastating effect.

Millions of families had been displaced as the security forces joined in relief and rescue operations.

In the southern Matara and Galle districts alone nearly 1,000 people are believed to have died.

The police and relief officials said that it was not possible to make any correct estimates of exact number of deaths.

Most southern and eastern towns in the coastal belt were devastated and was under several feet of sea water.

Thousands of homes along the coastal lines were completely washed away, eye witnesses said.