11 dead and 50,000 homeless in Sri Lanka’s floods

By Walter Jayawardhana

Pre-monsoon torrential rains that converted Colombo streets into small rivers left eleven people dead and more than 50,000 other people homeless Disaster management authorities in Sri Lanka said.

The majority of people who became homeless are from Galle Kalutara, Colombo and Gampaha Districts as Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces were the worst hit by the South Western Monsoon rains that came little bit earlier this year in Sri Lanka.

AS many houses in the Western Province went under water people went to take shelter in schools and Buddhist temples. At least three giant Wesak decorations which are called pandals , glittering with thousands of decorative colorful electric bulbs and attracting thousands of people few days ago fell down by strong gales of winds that came with the rains.

Two main roads in Colombo sank in the heavy rains , making huge crater like holes . Since one crater was made was on the main Galle road in Colombo at Wellawatte traffic had to be diverted along alternative roads in Colombo creating unprecedented traffic jams in the city.

Under relief programs of the government Rupees five million for Galle, Rupees 2 million for Kalutara and one million each for the Colombo and Gampaha districts have been released to provide food and compensation for the victims.