Floods leave 76,000 people marooned in Sri Lanka
17:35, 7 December 2010
COLOMBO. December 7. KAZINFORM More than 76,000 people were marooned, with over 2,300 homes damaged in flash floods caused by torrential rains in Sri Lanka, relief officials said Tuesday, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
The forecast spells more rains in the island in continuation of the wet weather conditions prevailing since early November.
Most of the affected people are those in Hambantota, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Gampaha, Jaffna, Trincomalee and Kegalla districts, said Pradeep Kodippily, a disaster management official.
Sluice gates of several reservoirs throughout the island were opened to prevent spills.
The irrigation officials said that farmers in the rural hinterland in the north and north central areas would be benefited in the next harvesting season as plenty of water will be available for cultivation
The filling up of hydro power reservoirs would ease the cost of thermal power operations, officials said, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com