News
Floods continue to displace thousands
View(s):The ongoing floods have affected nearly a million persons.
Karuwlalgaswewa was among the worst-hit areas with flood waters rising over 6 ft
Over the past week atmospheric abnormalities brought in unexpected levels of rainfall all over the island.
Story and pix by Kanchana Kumara and Jayarathna Wickckramarachchi
Resultantly, water levels at several reservoirs rose, forcing the irrigation department to open sluice gates. The rivers of water gushing out of the tanks flash flooded the surrounding areas forcing inhabitants to seek safety elsewhere.
A number of districts including Puttalam, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa are experiencing floods which have forced people out of their homes.
Our photographers caught the dismaying results of floods in various parts of the island.
Opening the sluice gates of the Thabbowa and Minneriya tanks flooded the surrounding areas. Roofs of houses are seen jutting out above a sea of flood water.
The unceasing rains forced authorities to open the sluice gates of several reservoirs. Our cameraman took this shot at the Thabbowa wewa
Many a flood victim was forced to abandon their home and climb up monadnocks to reach higher ground, carrying umbrellas to protect them from the rain.
Conventional methods of transport have been abandoned and boats travel where submerged roads once stood.
Those completely displaced by the floods are being housed in common buildings such as local schools and town halls. The Disaster Management Centre together with the security forces are working tirelessly to provide cooked meals and other necessities to the flood of IDPs.
Floods are a common in Sri Lanka. Yet despite it being an annual feature, floods never cease to destroy and displace.
 A group of displaced persons seeking shelter at a village school |  A woman carries her valuables as she makes her way through the rising waters |