By Ifham Nizam

Extreme weather pattern causing floods and landslides countrywide had claimed the  lives of 19 people, while five others were injured, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said adding that the Gampaha District was the worst affected with nearly 40, 000 families living in evacuation centres or with their relatives.

Ten people have drowned due to floods while another seven lost their lives during mudslides, DMC said.

Landslides and flood warnings are still in place in Gampaha, Kalutara and Kegalle districts.

DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said inclement weather had affected 271,110 people belonging to 67, 000 families, of which more than 26,800 persons remain displaced in 104 emergency shelters.

In addition, around 22,932 persons belonging to 5,700 families are staying in the homes of relatives. Nearly 980 homes were partly damaged, while some houses were completely damaged .

Some 10 districts have been battered by torrential rains since last Thursday, including Colombo and suburbs where many houses, paddy fields and roads have been inundated. A total of 88 divisional secretariat divisions have been affected.

Among the victims was a family of four who died when a mound of earth crashed into their house in the Kegalle district. Two others remain missing.

Meanwhile the Department of Meteorology says that

showers will occur today at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy districts. 

Fairly heavy rainfall of about 50 mm can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Uva and Eastern provinces during the evening or night, while mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere.