Flood havoc in many areas

Hemanthi Guruge

Nearly 17,000 people from 4,609 families have been affected due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in many parts of the country. Among the districts the worst hit are Kegalle, Galle, Kalutara, Colombo , Gampaha ,Kurunegala and Rathnapura. There were also eight deaths due to floods and weather related incidents, Disaster Management Centre Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said. In addition 50 houses have been damaged and 234 partially damaged by the floods.

'More than 7,000 people from 2,017 families have been affected in the Biyagama area in the Gampaha district. Nearly 1,500 people from 6,604 families have also been affected in the Colombo District," he said.

He also said that flood waters were receding in several low lying areas.

The Meteorological Department predicted fairly heavy rainfall in certain areas along the Western and Southern coasts with fairly rough winds. There would be occasional showers accompanied by fairly strong winds in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa Provinces and Galle and Matara districts.