Gale damages houses in Matara

Bandula Gunasekara and T K Ariyadasa -Malimbada Group Corr

Over thirty (30) houses in Kotapola and Pasgoda divisional areas were severely damaged by a gale that swept across Matara district around 8.00 pm on Monday, Matara District Disaster Management Director Major Saman Balasuriya said.

About 20 houses in Viharahena and Kandilpana Grama Niladhari divisions in the Kotapola Divisional Secretariat area were completely damaged. Five houses in Pasgoda and Ketawala areas were partly damaged by the gale that was experienced for over an hour, social services officer Pasgoda K L Mahinda said. Tree that fell blocked roadways and were cleaned by local bodies in the respective areas, Major Balasuriya said.