Over 35,000 marooned by bad weather and flash floods in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Nearly 35,000 people have been marooned due to torrential rains and flashfloods in Sri Lanka, disaster officials said today.

"9486 families have been affected due to bad weather that prevailed over the last 48 hours and some 35726 people have been affected, 30,000 alone from the worst hit Batticaloa district in eastern Sri Lanka", Sarath Lal Kumara, the media spokesman for the National Disaster Management Centre said.

Kumara said 14,000 people are being housed in 107 welfare camps.

Seven districts from different parts of the country are affected. Almost all of major reservoirs in the dry zone of the island have reached spill levels, he said.

Transport disruptions were affected with the cancellation of last night's mail trains to both northern and eastern regions.

After heavy rains on Friday and yesterday the weather is ser for improvement throughout the island today, Meteorological Department said.