Colombo, May 28 (NIA) – Hundreds of people residing near rivers and lakes in southern Sri Lanka, continued to be evacuated by relief teams on Sunday as water levels continued to rise due to severe rains.
The Police said that tri forces, along with the police and rescue teams were immediately evacuating people in Kalutara, Baddegama, Bandaragama, Piliyandala and Ratmalana, just outside the capital, as there was a threat of lakes and major rivers overflowing.
The people were being moved to higher and safer locations.
Relief items and assistance continued to pour in from all parts of the country for those affected by the floods while several centers were set up for people to donate dry rations, food, water and medicine.
President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have instructed the Finance Secretary to releases money needed for relief measures and to reimburse the damages.
Severe rains and strong winds, caused by the yearly monsoons, has caused major flooding and deadly landslides in the island country since Friday which has claimed the lives of 126 people and displaced nearly 500,000.
According to Disaster Management Center statistics, 97 people are missing and a search is ongoing to locate there whereabouts.
Over 100,000 people have been relocated to 304 safe locations.
Landslide warnings for seven districts have been extended for a further 24 hours as the Meteorology Department warned that more rains are expected over the south western part of the island.
The Metorology Department said fairly heavy falls (about 75 mm) can be expected at some places.
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