Thousands left homeless from floods
[21 September 2000]

Almost 17,000 people from Galle and Matara in Southern Sri Lanka have been affected by floods caused by torrential rains, leaving most of them homeless and killing at least two, sources confirmed.

The highest number of victims is from the Galle district, which amounted to about 12,000.

Nilwala Ganga in Matara and Gin Ganga in Galle district have overflowed displacing a number of people and crippling transport services.

“ Some 7800 families in the Galle district and 5000 families in Matara have been affected and are being cared for at several divisional secretariats,” N Pathirana, Director Social Service Department said.

However, the main rice crop in flooded areas was not affected as harvesting had been completed before the rains arrived. 

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