Strong winds: Five killed

Rafik JALALDEEN

NUWARA ELIYA: Five persons were killed, hundreds of civilians displaced and millions of rupees worth properties were damaged due to the heavy rain and strong winds in Nuwara-Eliya, Ratnapura, Matara and Colombo districts yesterday.

The monsoon condition became more active due to a formation of depression in the West Central Bay of Bengal. Heavy rains and strong winds hit several parts of the island.

“Heavy rains and strong winds will continue in the next 24 hours,” a Meterological Officer told the Daily News.

Strong winds hit the Nuwara Eliya district yesterday killing four persons and another in Ratnapura.

Negombo, Wattala, Gampola and Matara areas also were also affected.

According to Nuwara-Eliya police four persons were killed when trees fell on their houses. Eleven houses were damaged. Electricity supplies have been affected.

Meanwhile, in Matara district 25 houses in the Imaduwa Divisional Secretariat and 10 line houses in Rattota were damaged due to strong winds.

Around 17 houses in Negombo and three houses in Colombo were also were damaged.

According to the Meterological Department the strong wind condition will continue over most parts of the island especially over the South Western parts. There also will be intermittent showers in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, NorthWestern and Western provinces.

The Disaster Management Ministry is taking full measures to aid the civilians affected by the heavy rain and strong winds.