The number displaced as a result of flooding due to extreme weather conditions has exceeded 7000. The death toll has risen to 22. The granting of immediate relief on the orders of the President is being carried out continuously.
Heavy rain has been forecast in many parts of the island today while the Department of Meteorology has issued warnings.
Heavy rain is being experienced in a number of districts as a result of the atmospheric disturbances in the vicinity of Sri Lanka. The most affected districts are Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Ratnapura and Matara.
Water levels of several main rivers have risen and are now overflowing. Several areas in the Galle District are flooded due to the overflow of the Gin Ganga as a result of the heavy downpour experienced in the last few days. Areas such as Mapalagama, Kurupanawa and Unanvitiya have gone under water while there are obstructions to transport on several roads. The Udugama-Baddegama, Mapalagama-Pitigala, Mapalagama-Elpitiya and Udugama-Colombo roads are flooded. Several schools in the vicinity of the Nagoda Divisional Secretariat Division were closed today due to floods.
The Welipenna entrance of the Southern Expressway is completely under water due to incessant rain. Entrance to and exit from the Welipenna interchange has been suspended as all surrounding roads within this interchange have gone under water. However, the Expressway Information Centre said that there are no obstructions to travelling on the Expressway.
Relief is being continuously granted to the people of the Kalutara District, which is the worst affected as a result of extreme weather conditions. Landslide warnings were issued yesterday to the Palinda Nuwara, Agalawatte, Bulathsinhala, Matugama and Kalutara Divisional Secretariat Divisions within the Kalutara District. Food is being provided to the displaced families in the Kalutara District, while special teams have been deployed to look into the needs of these families. Ministers Mahinda Samarasinghe and Kumara Welgama toured the flood affected areas and inquired into the needs of the affected families.
In the meantime, several areas along the Colombo-Avissawella road have gone under water due to the heavy downpour. Our reporters said that certain stretches along the road within the Puwakpitiya-Kirindiwela area are around four feet under water.
Many roads and houses within the Padukka area are also flooded. Transport has come to a standstill as the Ingiriya-Colombo Highway and the Horana-Meepe Road are submerged. Padukka Divisional Secretary H.S. Hewage said that arrangements had been made to provide cooked meals to the affected families.
The Government has expressed its concern to the people who are impacted by the inclement weather, floods and landslides and also to family members who had lost their dear ones. The Disaster Management Centre has made arrangements to provide immediate relief to families affected by the present situation. Meanwhile members of the Security Forces have joined in relief operations with much dedication to rescue the affected persons.
The Air Force utilizing three helicopters are making their maximum contribution to providing food and other requirements to the families affected by natural calamities.
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