Three killed, 11,667 displaced by heavy rains

Three people were killed and 11,667 people were displaced due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the country, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

Among the dead was a victim struck by lightning at Anuradhapura while the other two were killed by landslides at Dehiowita.

DMC spokesman Pradeep Kodippili said the rains which wreaked havoc during the past few days had displaced 11,667 people from 7,880 families.

He said residents of Kalutara, Colombo, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Galle, Matara and Chilaw were badly affected by the heavy rains, floods and landslides.  

Mr. Kodippili said 5,196 people from 1,856 families were re-located in 32 camps and had been provided with adequate food, clean water, medicine and sanitary facilities.

He said the DMC was estimating the damage caused to houses and other buildings. (Piyumi Fonseka)