More than 88 percent affected by floods back home

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Around 88 percent of the people in Colombo who were affected by floods have already returned home. Around 185,000 people in Colombo were displaced due to floods, a Petroleum Industries Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, there are still 22,297 persons in refugee camps. The total number of families still in shelters in the Colombo district is 5,504. They will be provided with food and other requirements until being resettled in their homes. Colombo District Co-ordinating Committee Chairman Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha revealed those details during a committee meeting held recently, he said.

It was decided to inform all relevant Provincial Council and local authorities to clean all blocked drains located within their limits.

Water pumps will be provided to clean all wells. A report will be made on a list of vulnerable drainage and flood affected households, he added.