2,200 displaced by landslides and flooding in Sri Lanka

February 2, 2011 –  Colombo – While Sri Lanka’s north central and eastern parts are struggling to return to normalcy after the recent floods that wreaked havoc in the region another round of heavy rains have set back the recovery efforts. Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center (DMC) has reported that 2,271 people from 636 families have been displaced due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in the country currently. A total of 2,862 people from 738 families have been affected by the heavy rains and landslides in several parts of the country. Two deaths, a child from Vavuniya and another from Ambawaka on the Badulla-Nuwara Eliya road, have also been reported. Nearly half of the displaced, 1,011 are in Trincomalee District while another 945 have been displaced in Vavuniya district. The displaced have been given shelter in 11 welfare camps set up by the government in the two districts. Another 315 people have been evacuated to two shelters in Ella and Mahiyangana in Badulla district due to land slide threats. Among them are 30 Buddhist monks from the Mawalangala Aramaya. Landslide warnings have also been issued in Yatawatte, Rattota, and Pallepola of Matale district.  –Colombo Page