More Asian quakes possible: Sri Lankan geologist

"We can predict another earthquake occuring in Japan between April 16 and 20. One in China closer to border with India between April 14 and 16 and one in Indonesia's Java, Sumatra regions between April 10 and 17 ," Athula Senaratne of the Peardeniya Univeristy's Geological Research Department said.

Peradeniya University located in the central district of Kandy has the only earth science department in the island.

Senaratne said their research was based on the data of earthquakes above six in the richter scale over the last 100 years.

He said earthquakes can affect parts of Turkey, Iran and Greece. He said his team had correctly predicted the March earthquake in Japan and the one early this month.

He said Sri Lanka would not be affected by any of the earthquakes unless a Tsunami would be triggered by the one he had predicted in Indonesia between 10 and 17 April.

"But a Tsunami would be caused only if the quake hits 25 kms into the sea bed", Senaratne said.

Sri Lanka's coastal belt was devastated by the 2004 Tsunami following an earthquake in Sumatra.

More than 30,000 people died while 100,000 homes were destroyed.