Eight killed, thousands displaced in Lankan rains

The military is being deployed to evacuate tens of thousands fleeing their homes, officials said on Monday. Meteorology Department also warned of incessant rain and thundershowers throughout the country. Military personnel have been deployed to evacuate people living on slopes or in flood-hit areas. The navy was also helping clear choked canals in Colombo to stop low-lying areas including the country’s parliament from flooding. 

Nearly 5,000 families living in low-lying areas which have already been flooded due to the rains had been moved to relief centres, Disaster Management Centre spokesman Pradeep Kodippili said, adding that thousands of others have also left their homes to safety. 

The rains have been lashing the country for the last two days, felling trees, damaging power cables and blocking roads and connectivity. Relief operations are underway, and the military deployed in the hill country areas to provide relief, he said.

As many as eight districts have been issued landslide warnings. Rains lashed the country throughout Sunday, and several roads have been cut off due to floods ,with the Sri Lanka Red Cross saying its employees have been placed on alert to assist anyone who may be affected by the bad weather.