Over 68,000 affected by floods and landslides

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - The Puttalam district suffered the brunt of the inclement weather while many other areas also experienced flooding and landslides. The Sri Lanka Navy launched an operation to rescue the people who were trapped in their homes in the Pothuvil area in Madampe. The security forces rescued 28 differently-abled children and their teachers who were trapped at the Vocational Training Centre since last afternoon. The Madampe - Kuliyapitiya Main Road was flooded in the Pothuvila area while the Chilaw - Colombo Main Road was inundated from the Madampe area. The Puttalam - Mannar Road was inundated from the Eluwankulama area after the Kala Oya broke its banks. The Randavibendiela which carries water to the Thabbowa Reservoir had broken away from two separate locations, resulting in around 80 paddy lands being inundated. The water which over-flowed was retained at the bund of the Devalakanda Wewa, however, the bund too is at risk of being washed away. Locals in the area had taken measures to widen the spillway to prevent the bund from being washed away. A number of low-lying areas were inundated after the water level of the Kelani River increased. The Kelanimulla and Kelaniya Pethiyagoda areas were flooded today (May 22). As flood waters reached the Peliyagoda Fish Market, the people living in the area moved towards the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway this afternoon. Several houses in the Avissawella - Nugewatte area were inundated after the Seethawaka River over-flowed. The Molkawa area in Bulathsinhala was flooded when the Kukule Ganga over-flowed.