News
Strong winds wreck more than 1,000 homes
The roof of this house was blown off due to high winds. Below: A partially damaged house. Pix by Hiran Priyankara
Strong winds have damaged 1,083 houses in six divisional secretariats of the Puttalam District, officials said.
The Disaster Management Centre Deputy Director, Pradeep Kodippili, said Nawagattegama was the worst affected, where 492 houses are damaged, followed by Anamaduwa (377), Karuwalagaswewa (194), Wanathavilluwa (16), Puttalam (02) and Mahakumbukkadawala (02).
The National Disaster Relief Services Center has allocated financial assistance of about Rs. 5.2 million to provide relief to the victims of Wednesday’s disaster.
The director general of the Disaster Management Center, Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe has instructed the Puttalam District Disaster Management Coordinating Unit to deal with the Puttalam District Secretary to provide relief.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, the Nawagaththegama Divisional Secretariat’s Harshana Jayasiri said that many houses suffered roof damage.
“We have provided families disaster relief funds of Rs 200,000 already to repair and rebuild their houses,’’ he said.
Strong winds had also damaged power lines in seven Grama Niladhari divisions in the area and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has reconnected the power. A few more remain to be connected.
It has been reported that 125 small and medium scale enterprises have been damaged.
Infrastructure in these areas have been affected.
In Puttalam the lockdown has been in effect since late March after being identified as a high-risk zone for the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department said adverse weather is expected in evenings in any part of the country except the Northern province.
Showers or thunderstorms will occur in most places after 2:00 p.m. Fairly heavy rains above 75 mm are likely at some places and people are being advised to take precautions to minimise damage caused by lightning and strong winds during thunderstorms.
Misty conditions can be expected in some places in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces during the morning, the department added.
