COLOMBO: (Oct 25) More than 21,000 people across Sri Lanka have been affected by heavy rains and flooding over the past several days, with four deaths and nearly 600 homes damaged, according to the Disaster Management Center (DMC) on Friday.
The DMC said 21,778 people from 5,361 families have been impacted by the severe weather, which has triggered flash floods and landslide warnings in multiple regions.
The Department of Meteorology forecast further rainfall exceeding 50 mm on Friday and Saturday across several provinces, along with strong winds up to 40 km/h in coastal areas off the western and southern seas.
The Irrigation Department reported that 15 major reservoirs were overflowing due to continuous downpours, prompting authorities to monitor nearby communities and water levels closely.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected households, while local authorities have urged residents in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to remain alert and follow evacuation advisories.
Sri Lanka has witnessed persistent heavy rainfall in recent days, raising the risk of flooding and infrastructure damage across several districts, including Ratnapura, Galle, and Kegalle.