Nearly 600 families hit by landslide threat

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

KANDY: More than 590 families have been displaced by floods and landslides caused by heavy rains on Saturday.

Kandy, Matale, Ratnapura and Badulla are worst hit by the floods and landslides, said National Disaster Management Director N.D. Hettiarachchi.

Nearly 300 houses have been destroyed, he said.

The displaced families have been provided with temporary shelters. The National Disaster Management Centre had also taken steps to supply food items, water and other necessities to the affected through District and Divisional Secretaries of the affected districts.

The Government had disbursed Rs.46.7 million to assist the flood victims. The funds are now with District and Divisional authorities, he added.

According to reports reaching Colombo, the main bridge linking the Western Province and the North Western Province, the Makandura-Badalgasma bridge has been affected by the floods.

The waves of Ma Oya had washed away 50 feet of land towards the bridge, the sources said.