90% paddy cultivation damaged

6 February 2011 11:30 am

By Gandhya Senanayake

Ninety percent of the paddy cultivation in the flood affected area is estimated to be damaged, the exact situation can only be ascertained after the water level recedes, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told Daily Mirror online.

He however added that paddy stocks to last for 6 months were in stock to face any paddy shortages.

Most of the paddy fields in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and other areas in the North Central, Central and Eastern Provinces were inundated due to the floods and heavy downpours during the last few weeks.

Meanwhile more than 1243478 persons belonging to 362821 families have been affected, while 11 deaths were reported due to the floods and heavy rain in Ampara, Batticaloa, Mullative and Trincomalee Districts. 67508 families are been sheltered in 689 camps, the Disaster Management Center reported.

More than 1161 houses were fully damaged and 8412 were partially damaged due to floods and heavy rain.  Eight injured persons and three missing individuals were also reported.
 
Meanwhile 06 sluice gates of Senanayake Samudraya were opened after reaching spill levels in Moneragala District.  In Puttalam District 17 sluice gates of Rajanganaya, 12 sluice gates of Tabbowa & 06 sluice Inginimitiya tanks were opened. Roads from Anamaduwa to Nawagattegama are inundated and impassable.

In Badulla due to the possibility of land slide in Mawalangala Aramaya, 30 Buddhist monks were temporary evacuated to safety. (Daily Mirror online)