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Rain causes havoc in Polonnaruwa

by Anura Maitipe

Floods following heavy rains during the last few days has caused severe damage to paddy and other cash crops in the Polonnaruwa and Ampara districts, Irrigation Department sources told the Daily News yesterday. Tanks in Polonnaruwa district have spilled over submerging over 10,000 acres of cultivated land and many roads in the area.

However, following the opening of ten emergency gates in the Prakrama Samudra, the Manampitiya road which was under water during the last few days has now become passable, sources added.

The Department of Irrigation has kept open the flood gates open to prevent any damage being caused to the dams. Unless there is more rain the flood situation is expected to further subside quickly without causing more damage to the paddy crop, the sources added.

The Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and refugees Jayalath Jayawardena has instructed that dry rations be provided for three weeks under the supervision of district secretaries to the affected families in these districts, sources said.

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