Flooding in Jaffna this week
More than 68 people have died from lightning strikes, drowning, falling trees and landslides triggered by the rains, according to official updates, with hundreds still missing in the Kegalle district. Hundreds of thousands have also left their homes as torrential rains continued.
Flooding in Kilinochchi this week |
The deaths have triggered an outpouring of international support for the Sri Lankan government, with India sending two naval ships with relief supplies and disaster assistance materials from the USA.
The government also lifted taxes on relief supplies sent by foreign donors, a practise which was in place during the massive 2004 Boxing Day tsunami (see here and here).
Floods have also hit Kilinochchi and Jaffna, affecting hundreds of families in the Tamil North-East.