May 24, Colombo (LNW): Torrential rain and strong winds sweeping across several parts of Sri Lanka have disrupted the lives of more than 28,000 residents, as emergency authorities continue to assess the scale of the damage.
According to the latest figures released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), a total of 28,933 people from 7,482 families have been affected by the ongoing spell of harsh weather, which has triggered flooding, property damage and widespread hardship in multiple districts.
The worst-hit area remains Gampaha District, where over 15,000 residents from nearly 4,000 households have experienced severe difficulties. Authorities also confirmed one fatality from the district as rescue and relief operations continue.
Several other regions have also reported considerable impacts. In Puttalam District, more than 4,200 people have been affected, while Colombo and Ratnapura districts each recorded over 4,500 impacted residents. Smaller numbers of affected families were reported from Kalutara, Trincomalee, Galle and Vavuniya districts as persistent rainfall continued to lash parts of the island.
The adverse conditions have also caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Officials stated that two houses were completely destroyed, while a further 836 homes sustained varying degrees of damage. Gampaha again accounted for the largest share of destruction, with hundreds of partially damaged houses reported alongside the two homes that were entirely ruined.
Disaster response teams have been deployed to several vulnerable areas, with authorities urging residents living near flood-prone zones and unstable terrain to remain vigilant as unsettled weather conditions are expected to persist in the coming days.