Over 1.5 billion lost in Lanka floods and landslides

The heaviest rain in Sri Lanka in over 25 years caused an estimated loss of up to Rs 2.5 billion besides claiming lives of at least 92 people and displacing over 3 lakh others, the government said today.

“The estimated cost of the loss of property is between Rs 1.5 to 2.5 billion,” Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. The National Disaster Management Center said that flood levels were receding and the number of people in the temporary relief camps has lessened.

“The death toll was 92,” Pradeep Kodippili, Assistant Director of the DMC, said. The search operations in the landslide-hit Aranayake region is continuing.

So far 24 bodies have been found, the military said. Over 100 people still remain unaccounted for. A special parliamentary session has been called for Wednesday, Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala said.

President Maithripala Sirisena has declared all floods and landslide affected areas as emergency zones. All land reclamation activity in the area has been banned, president’s office said. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department predicted more rain as the south west monsoon was gradually setting in.

Some 3,40,000 people have been displaced across the country in the floods and landslides, said Pradeep Kodippili, spokesman of the Disaster Management Centre.