Around 8,000 students of the University of Peradeniya who were stranded due to severe flooding have been confirmed safe, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said.

University authorities also issued an urgent public message to parents, urging them not to panic or attempt to travel to the campus, explaining that the communication blackout in the area is the result of a complete failure of connectivity services.

Officials said the safety of all students remains the top priority, with coordinated rescue and relief operations underway involving university staff, the military, the navy and disaster management teams. Access routes to the university, including roads from Kandy and Galagedara, are blocked or heavily restricted, making travel to the area unsafe and impractical.

The university further assured that all students are being monitored and protected, including those living in off-campus accommodation, many of whom have already been moved to secure shelters. Authorities requested continued patience from families as rescue and relief work progresses.