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By APD writer Jamila Husain
COLOMBO, May 27 (APD) - The death toll from the devastating floo ds and landslides which hit Sri Lanka on Friday reached 100 by Saturday morning, while 99 are still missing, the Disaster Management Center said.
Over 200,000 people have been displaced while search and rescue operations are ongoing in several areas which have been inundated.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in an urgent meeting with his district secretaries on Saturday morning ordered immediate relief to the victims and said the government's aim was to restore the livelihood for those affected.
He ordered the area secretaries to do whatever possible to assist the victims and restore their incomes as soon as possible.
"We have to assist these victims and restore the economy in the affected areas. The President also has instructed immediate relief to those affected and he will be visiting some of the worst affected districts," the Prime Minister said.
Sri Lanka, on Friday made an appeal to UN, the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) and neighboring countries to provide assistance for the affected people, especially in the areas where search and rescue operations were ongoing.
As its immediate neighbour, an Indian ship filled with relief supplies for those affected by the devastating floods and landslides arrived at the Colombo Port on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake visited the Port to receive Indian Naval Ship INS Kirch and received the supplies from Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Sandhu.
The Foreign Ministry said that another ship filled with relief supplies from India will arrive in Colombo on Sunday.
Hours of rains and strong winds caused heavy flooding and oer 15 landlides in many areas especially in the south of the country which claimed the lives of many.
Although by Saturday morning the rains had ceased. people residing in low lying areas were still being evacuated due to overflowing rivers.
The Meteorology Department in its latest weather report said although rains had reduced, the monsoonal showers and windy condition would continue over south-western parts of the island.
It also warned that heavy falls (about 100 mm) could be expected at some places.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
