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As the torrential monsoon season deluges, the Sri Lankan authorities issued fresh landslide warnings on Sunday with rain devastating parts of the region.
The landslide caused thousands of people to be displaced as the death toll climbed up to 618. The weather continues to produce more intense rain.
About 10 per cent of the people have been affected by the catastrophe. Cyclone Ditwah triggered people to leave the island nation as last week’s floods and landslide resulted in a lot of damage.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said monsoon storms were adding more rain and making hillsides unstable, including the central mountainous region and the north-western midlands.
Helicopters and planes were being used on Sunday as a rescue effort to supply communities cut off by landslides in the centre of the country.
The Sri Lanka Air Force said it had received a planeload of relief supplies from Myanmar on Sunday, the latest batch of foreign aid.
The government and officials confirmed 618 death toll while 209 people remain displaced or unaccounted.
The number of people in state-run refugee camps had dropped to 100,000 from a peak of 225,000 as floodwaters receded across the island by Sunday, the DMC said.
More than 75,000 homes were damaged, including close to 5,000 that were completely destroyed, it added.
The government on Friday opened a new compensation package to rebuild homes and revive businesses wiped out by the natural disaster, which hit the island as it was emerging from its 2022 economic meltdown.
A senior official earlier said recovery and reconstruction might cost up to $7 billion, which can cause the Sri Lankan economy to shake up.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday it was considering Sri Lanka’s request for an additional $200 million to help with rebuilding.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament on Friday that Sri Lanka’s economy had made a significant recovery, but was not strong enough to withstand the latest shock alone.
One million rupees is being offered in compensation for each person killed or left permanently disabled.
The government did not say how much the package would cost, raising concerns given the country's recent economic turbulence.
The central bank has ordered commercial lenders, both state-owned and private, to reschedule loans.
(With inputs from agencies)
The landslide caused thousands of people to be displaced as the death toll climbed up to 618. The weather continues to produce more intense rain.
About 10 per cent of the people have been affected by the catastrophe. Cyclone Ditwah triggered people to leave the island nation as last week’s floods and landslide resulted in a lot of damage.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said monsoon storms were adding more rain and making hillsides unstable, including the central mountainous region and the north-western midlands.
Government aid
Helicopters and planes were being used on Sunday as a rescue effort to supply communities cut off by landslides in the centre of the country.
The Sri Lanka Air Force said it had received a planeload of relief supplies from Myanmar on Sunday, the latest batch of foreign aid.
Death toll
The government and officials confirmed 618 death toll while 209 people remain displaced or unaccounted.
The number of people in state-run refugee camps had dropped to 100,000 from a peak of 225,000 as floodwaters receded across the island by Sunday, the DMC said.
More than 75,000 homes were damaged, including close to 5,000 that were completely destroyed, it added.
Compensation package
The government on Friday opened a new compensation package to rebuild homes and revive businesses wiped out by the natural disaster, which hit the island as it was emerging from its 2022 economic meltdown.
A senior official earlier said recovery and reconstruction might cost up to $7 billion, which can cause the Sri Lankan economy to shake up.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday it was considering Sri Lanka’s request for an additional $200 million to help with rebuilding.
Sri Lankan economy
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament on Friday that Sri Lanka’s economy had made a significant recovery, but was not strong enough to withstand the latest shock alone.
One million rupees is being offered in compensation for each person killed or left permanently disabled.
The government did not say how much the package would cost, raising concerns given the country's recent economic turbulence.
The central bank has ordered commercial lenders, both state-owned and private, to reschedule loans.
(With inputs from agencies)
