The district court in the eastern coastal town of Kalmunai ordered two weeks ago that the four-month-old baby, whose case attracted world headlines, be handed over to the only woman who claimed him as her son.

But doctors had said the boy was too ill to be discharged from hospital.

Kalmunai hospital medical superintendent K. Muruganathan said they will ask the court Wednesday for a DNA test to confirm that the woman, J.Jeyarajah, was indeed the mother of the child, even though no one else has claimed him.

"Tomorrow we will ask for DNA testing," Muruganathan told AFP. "How do we know that the one who has claimed the child is the real parent? We are very sure the judge will agree."

Sri Lanka has no easy access to DNA testing which could take months, according to forensic experts in Colombo. A judicial-medical officer in Colombo said since there were no competing claims, the child could be given to Jeyarajah and her husband pending DNA verification.

Muruganathan had told the court last month the child was too sick to be given to the woman pending testing.

However, an AFP reporter said the baby on Tuesday appeared in good health and doctors and nurses said there was nothing wrong with him.

"The baby has gained weight. He is free from any disease and can leave hospital," a doctor said of the playful child.

Kalmunai district court registrar M.S. Mohamed Nazeer said only Jeyarajah had claimed the child, dismissing media reports that nine mothers were claiming the baby.

Local police chief W. C. Wijetilleka also confirmed they have only one claimant for the child described as "Baby 81" because he was the 81st patent to be admitted to Kalmunai hospital.

Wijetilleka said the child had been rescued by a neighbour from under a pile of garbage immediately after giant waves lashed Kalmunai on December 26.

"The man had given the child to Kalmunai hospital. The parents who also survived the waves later found the child. Because it had a miraculous escape, a lot of people showed interest in the child but they never said they were the parents," Wijetilleka said.

Police said the hospital was reluctant to release the boy until he was well enough and until they had positively established the identity of his parents. The couple then petitioned the court.

The man who rescued the child has told police he knew the child was that of his neighbours and there was no dispute about the parentage.