One dead, over 12,000 affected by bad weather, PM orders immediate relief

One relief worker has died and over 12,000 persons have been affected by heavy rain triggered floods, strong winds and landslides, the Disaster Management Centre said.

Spokesman to the DMC Pradeep Kodippilli said one person attached to the Disaster Relief Services has died at Kiriella.

“We are in the process of looking into the cause of death whether it was a natural death or whether he was involved in rescue operation,” he said.

Flooding in Biyagama, Kelaniya, Attanagalla and Mahara from Gampaha district have resulted in 11,477 persons affected. 

In Colombo, floods hit Sri Jayawardenapura and Kaduwela areas and over 40 have been relocated to safe areas. Strong winds damaged 12 houses in Moratuwa. In Kalutara district, Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala and Bandaragama were affected by floods. One person was injured from a landslide in Matara. 

DMC said 66 houses have been damaged from weather extremes yesterday and over 250 people are presently in safe locations. Both the DMC and navy have deployed teams to assist those affected families and students facing Ordinary Level examinations. 

Over 60 persons living in Ratnapura, Elapatha and Kiriella have been temporarily located due to landslide risk. 

Disaster Management Centre requested to call the 24 hour DMC hotline 117 or the Examinations Department hotline 1911 for emergencies and if needed support. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today ordered authorities to immediately provide relief for those affected by floods, Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake told the Sunday Times. 

He said allocations have been made by the Treasury to provide immediate relief to those affected by floods and landslides in Colombo, Gampaha, Kandy, Kalutara,  and Ratnapura districts. District Secretaries have been told to coordinate relief work at local level, he said. 

The Meteorology Department said there is a possibility of heavy rainfall (above 75mm) in Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts today. 

The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) issued a red alert warning to Ratnapura, Kalawana, Elapatha, Kuruwita and Eheliyagoda divisional secretariat divisions. 

Pix by M.A. Pushpakumara