May 24, 2016
Colombo: The death toll from last week's flash floods and landslides in Lanka has
risen to 92. Seven bodies were recovered by the army from the landslide site in
Aranayake in Kegalle district on Monday. The Met on Tuesday warned of further
strong windy conditions and heavy rain in coming days.
With the floodwaters fast receding and displaced people returning to their
dwellings, the Army Commanding Officers have been told to be alert to post-
disaster consequences like contagious diseases. Medical teams have been set up
by the army in Colombo region-based relief centres and elsewhere in
Bulathkohupitiya and Aranayake areas. There are 126,666 people still in shelters
while 63,377 families have been affected.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said 107 people in the landslide-hit areas
are still missing and most of the deaths, a total of 59, occurred in the Kegalle
district when two landslides struck three villages in Aranayake and
Bulathkohupitiya.
The Meteorology Department has said that south-west monsoon was establishing
over the country. More rain would occur in the western, north-western, southern,
central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. Strong windy conditions will occur, it
warned.
