1,250 individuals displaced due to heavy rain

By Anisha Manage and Sanath Gamage  

At least 1250 people of 360 families in the Hambantota district had been displaced by last morning due to the heavy rain and floods experienced in the district at present. Hambantota District Secretary Bandula Harischandra said more than 200 houses had been affected by floods. He said any casualties or deaths had not been reported as of present.   
Asst. Director of District Disaster Management Centre Nalin Bentararachchi said the people in ten ‘grama-seva’ divisions had been affected by floods. He said the displaced families were provided with temporary shelter at the welfare centres in three temples. The District Secretary said the police, and the security forces had been deployed to provide urgent relief to the people in the affected area.   

Police said Tangalle –Weeraketiya main road had gone under water due to the overflow of the Kirama oya bringing traffic to a standstill. Life Guard unit of the police and the army had been deployed to provide protection to the people. Colombo – Kataragama road and Beliatta-Walasmulla road were underwater causing obstructions to traffic. The stretch of Southern expressway from Beliatta to Mattala, had been open for usual traffic and pedestrians in view of the floods that submerged the main roads.   

Meanwhile Southern Province Governor Hemal Gunasekara said he ordered the closure of all schools yesterday in the Hambantota District and the Mulatiyana educational zone in Matara in view of the prevailing flood threat. He said several areas in the Mulatiyana educational zone were facing the danger of earth slides.