Earthslips, floods claim seven lives

by Chamikara Weerasinghe

Seven persons were killed in the Ratnapura district by earthslips and floods caused by torrential rains.

Six thousand families had been affected by the floods with over 200 families displaced. Transport in the area had also been obstructed owing to the conditions, Ratnapura police said.

The Ratnapura Municipal Ground, Kalawana and Matugama areas which had been submerged are now recovering.

The Government, divisional secretariats and local authorities are now making efforts to transport the affected to safer areas, the Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat said.

An earthslip in Rassagala, Balangoda had claimed the lives of five members of one family. One woman was killed by an earthslip in the Norwood -Abocini Montienna estate, the sources said. Another person was killed by a falling tree.

Most schools have been closed in the areas affected by the floods. Kalutara, Ratnapura and Avissawella areas had been worst hit.