Sri Lanka Flood Situation Update 21 May 2010

Since Friday, 14 May 2010, heavy pre-monsoon rains have resulted in flash floods, high levels of water, strong wind, landslides, lightning, thunder storms and incidents in 14 of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka: Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Matara, Kegalle, Galle, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Trincomalee, Puttalam, Mannar and Anuradhapura. See attached table breakdown and latest map.

As of Thursday, 20 May 2010, 513,586 persons (118,888 families) have been affected by the heavy rains. This includes displacement of 17,039 people and 26 deaths. Reports indicate that 1354 houses have been damaged or destroyed.

Friday's reports from Kalutara district say that families within several Divisional Secretariat Divisions are inconvenienced by the rain. Many low lying areas in the Bandaragama, Matugama, Palinda Nuwara, Panadura, Millaniya, Walallavita, Dodangoda, Beruwala, Bulathsinhala, Horana, Madurawala, Ingiriya and Agalawatte Divisional Secretariat Divisions have gone under water. The number impacted is 61,755. They represent 14,437 families.

The meteorological department has warned that the heavy rains are likely to continue for the next three days as the south-eastern monsoon sets in.

Flood Affected DS Divisions, Sri Lanka due to heavy rainfall as at 21st May, 2010, see map from ReliefWeb .