350,000 displaced in Sri Lanka as monsoon death toll rises

by cynthia yoo | June 3, 2008 at 08:50 am

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Heavy rains have caused devastating landslides and floods in southern Sri Lanka. More than 350,000 people have been moved due to the flooding and the death toll has risen to 19.

Normal life has been severely disrupted in the districts of Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Mathara and Rathnapura.
The floods have also inundated thousands of hectares of farmland. Weather forecasters are predicting even more rain later this week.

The secretary to the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief, ACM Razeek, told the BBC Sinhala service that four more people were missing feared dead.

Officials say that monsoon rains have been heavier than normal, causing landslides and rivers to burst their banks in south, west and central areas of the country.

Many of those affected are taking shelter in schools and temples.

The armed forces have been deployed and are using boats and helicopters to distribute food and carry people to safety.

The government has warned that the situation could worsen in the days to come.