Sri Lanka flood, landslide toll rises

Dec 18, 2012 (LBO) – Flooding and landslides have killed at least nine people and left thousands homeless, Sri Lanka’s disaster management office said as heavy rains continued to lash parts of the island.

Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre said eight people had died in Matale and one is Kandy in central Sri Lanka and another person was missing.

Roads from Laggala to Wilgamuwa, Raththota to Illukumbura and Matale to Galewela were blocked from landslides.

Five people had died in Raththota.

A trunk road from Kandy to Matale was blocked at Akurana due to a flash flood with the military and police helping with relief.

Over 3,400 homeless were in evacuation centres.

Floods were also reported in Polonnaruwa, Badulla and Baticaloa and water levels were rising in reservoirs.

Sluice gates of Kalawewa and Rajangana tanks (reservoirs) have been opened, the state information office said, warning people to be vigilant.

Sri Lanka has seen dry weather in 2011 which hit agriculture and power generation, after floods in the previous year.