Sri Lanka flood toll rises to 27, Indian assistance arrives

Colombo, Jan 14 (PTI) India has rushed humanitarian
assistance to Sri Lanka, where devastation due to heavy floods
has claimed 27 lives and affected over one million people.
The death toll in the floods has climbed to 27 while
another 12 persons are still missing, the disaster management
centre (DRC) said on Friday.
The devastation caused by the monsoon floods has
already hit one million and fifty thousand persons. More than
361,000 persons have been left homeless and provided temporary
shelter at 594 camps, DRC said on Friday.
Meteorological department says it has seen a
significant drop in rain fall.
"We have seen a relatively significant drop in rain
on Thursday after experiencing heavy showers across the
country
for about a week," meteorological duty forecaster Chaminda De
Silva told PTI.
"We can also expect the easing off of low temperature
experienced during the last couple of days. Though the
possibility of showers remain, it will be relatively low," De
Silva said.
The eastern province affected by the bloody civil war
for decades has been the worst affected. The Batticaloa
district has received a rainfall as high as 1602.2 mm during
last 42 days, which is only 46.7 mm short of its annual
rainfall, the Information Department said.
Foreign governments and NGOs have come forward to
provide assistance to flood victims.
India responded quickly to Sri Lanka's call for
assistance by sending a consignment of relief supply by an
special air craft.
The 25 tons of relief material, including food,
drinking water, sleeping mats, blankets and bed sheets arrived
in the country on Friday, officials said.
Mahinda Amraweera, disaster management minister of
Sri Lanka received the donation at the airport.
Indian Air Force air craft will carry the rest of
the relief assistance on Monday, officials said.
Islamic and Arabian countries also held talks with
external affairs ministry to support flood victims, the state
radio announced.
UN agencies are also involved in providing relief
supplies to affected people.
Seven truck loads of supplies sent by UNICEF have
reached the worst affected eastern province Thursday.
Sri Lankan government has spent Rs 139 million for
relief supply and operations. The floods also destroyed
400,000 acres of paddy fields and around two hundred
irrigation tanks.
Sri Lankan officials estimated the loss of around Rs
30 billion in recent flooding in the country.
Meanwhile, several wild animals also believed to have
been perished due to floods. PTI