Death toll in floods and landslides further increases : 212 deaths and 218 missing

Among the fresh incidents reported were landslides in the Aranayake area, breaching of the Mavil Aru tank, and flooding in the Wellampitiya and Kolonnawa areas.

Details of an incident of a landslide that occurred in the Mahakanda area of Peradeniya on Friday morning were reported today where at least 20 persons have been killed. Another incident was reported from Doluwa in Kandy too.

A total of 968,304 persons have been affected by the impact of Cyclone ‘Ditwah’ .

The Kelani river water levels were further rising also affecting the Biyagama, Gampaha and Ja-Ela area among others prompting the security forces to evacuate hundreds of persons.

The majority of the deaths have been due to landslides in the central Kandy and Badulla districts while over one million persons have been displaced.

The cyclonic storm ‘Ditwah’ moved away from the country towards South India on Saturday and rains have reduced, but flooding in low-lying areas continued.

Meanwhile Indian relief teams have been helping in rescue and relief operations.

Meanwhile the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch an assessment team to  Sri Lanka through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in response to the damages in Sri Lanka caused by the cyclone.

The team, which consists of 4 members including JICA staff and medical personnel, will monitor medical needs on the ground, and coordinate the possible dispatch of a JDR team. The team is due in Sri Lanka on Monday.

Japan has also decided to provide emergency relief goods including tents and blankets to the affected people through JICA.

Pakistan too is sending helicopters to assist in the relief operations.