At least 14 persons have been killed in Sri Lanka’s recent rains and consequent floods, which have displaced over six lakh people, Sri Lankan news agencies have reported.
Many parts of the island, including its North Central, Central and Eastern provinces, have been experiencing incessant rains for over a week. Several highways and key access roads criss-crossing the country are inundated, according to local media reports.
Private news agency Adaderana said least three persons were dead following in landslides in Badulla in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, which experienced a massive landslide in October. Nearly 60 homes were destroyed and at least 100 persons were buried alive.
Many of the districts affected by the floods experienced the one of Sri Lanka’s worst droughts this year, putting farmers in a fix.
Sri Lanka’s Election Commission, gearing up for the country’s January 8 Presidential polls, is said to be equipping itself with boats, to ensure transportation of ballot boxes, media reports said.