Severe weather in Sri Lanka from late December has affected over 125,000 people. At least 2 people died and 5 were injured according to Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Agency. The deaths occurred in Kandawalai in Killinochchi district, and Maruthankerny in Jaffna.
The severe weather, including strong winds, heavy rain and flash flooding, began around 22 December and continued for several days. Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology said 365.1mm of rain fell in Maankulam, Mullaitivu district, in 24 hours to 22 December.
Among the worst-hit areas were the districts of Mullaitivu, Killinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna.
Over 500 homes have been destroyed (388 in Killinochchi) and 4,636 damaged. At one point over 11,000 people were evacuated, according to the EU’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO). Military and police were involved in rescue operations.
As of 02 January, 2019, 197 people remained displaced, including 85 in Mannar and 105 in Kandy districts.
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society said weather conditions have recently improved but it will continue to provide support to people affected by floods, in particular in Mullaitivu and Killinochchi.
