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COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - FLOODS triggered by torrential rain have killed at least nine and forced thousands of people from their homes in Sri Lanka, with some taking shelter in schools and temples, officials said on Monday.
Flooding, often fueled by monsoon rains, and ensuing mass displacement are common in Sri Lanka.
'Nine people have been killed and a total of 83,433 people have been affected due to the heavy rains,' said Keerthi Ekanayake, national coordinator at the National Disaster Management Centre.
The Meteorology Department forecast continued rainfall in coming days with the start of the southwestern monsoon.
'Of those (affected) about 520 families are in 14 IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps,' Mr Ekanayake added.
He said most of the displaced were living with friends and relatives.
Heavy torrential rains struck the Indian Ocean nation's Western districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kaluthara, the southern districts of Galle and Mathara, and the Gem mining district of Rathnapura.
Brigadier N.B. Weregama, director of the island's disaster management centre, said that soldiers, navy and airforce personnel had been deployed to ferry the displaced to nearby schools, temples, churches and other public buildings
State and private charities were helping feed the displaced.
Some roads in the capital and in worst-hti central and southern Sri Lanka have been rendered impassable, he added.
The government has allocated 15 million rupees (S$190,000) to assist the displaced people, disaster relief services minister Rishard Badurdeen told reporters.
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