Reeling from the aftermath of the worst floods in the district of Colombo since the late 80s, with perilous landslides hampering rescue missions in Kegalle, Sri Lanka has over a hundred deaths recorded and close to half a million people displaced.
The affected areas include Colombo, Kegalle, Kilinochchi, Anuradhapura, Puttlam and Kandy among many others leaving only 1/3 of the island safe from disaster.
With the highest water level reporting for over 19-feet in one of Sri Lanka’s main rivers, Kelani, the floods are considered more catastrophic compared to the floods of the later 80s. In Aranayake, Kegalle, continuous landslides hinder relief and rescue operations carried out by the forces and the Sri Lanka Red Cross.
“While most have been evacuated from disaster areas and moved to safe land, the damage to property is unbelievable. The count as at now is 354 houses completely destroyed and 3326 houses partially damaged Island wide due to floods landslides,” said Janathakshan Co-ordinator for the Disaster Management Centre, Menake Wijesinghe.
"We need to help communities affected. This could be through provision of rations, as well as helping them get back on their feet post disaster. SLYCAN Trust is currently working on how best to help the communities and the children of these communities affected post disaster, while contributing to the efforts of providing food and other necessities to those affected," said SLYCAN Trust Co-ordinator Bhagya Wickramasinghe.
Flood and landslide relief efforts are also being carried out by the private sector and volunteer groups that are currently focused on feeding, sheltering and medicating the victims
"It is one of the worse disasters that Sri Lanka has faced. This indicates the vulnerability of the country, and the need for building resilience of communities. However it is moving to see how people have come together to help those in need. The humanitarian actions done by volunteers is exceptional, and the country coming together in a situation like this highlights that we are together in addressing this," said Vositha Wijenayake, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator of Climate Action Network South Asia.
Speaking on the landslides was Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe who noted that the chances of saving those trapped were very slim due to the extent of the calamity but would continue to search regardless.
SLYCAN Trust is driven by the vision of collective local and global efforts to address impacts of climate change, animal welfare, social and gender empowerment and agriculture.
