Floods, landslides kill 17, maroon 1 million in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Sri Lanka have killed at least 17 people and marooned nearly a million in the past four days, officials said today.

Lal Sarath Kumara, a top disaster management official, said 980,095 people from over 270,000 families are affected in 17 districts in the country.

"There were 17 deaths with 15 more disappearances. Twelve more are wounded", Kumara said.

Of the 17 deaths, nine died due to landslides at worst-hit Rilpola in the central Badulla district.

Kumara said more than 4,200 homes have been completely damaged while another 13,000 have been partially hit.

The Meteorological Department has predicted weather conditions to get worse with more rains likely to lash the eastern, south eastern, central, northern and north central districts because of depression 400 kilometres east of southern Hambantota district.

At least 38 people were killed in October when mudslides buried homes of tea plantation workers in the country's central hills.