Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called on all Members of Parliament to return to their districts and step up relief efforts as severe weather is forecast to intensify over the next 48 hours. The directive was issued during a special meeting at Parliament on Thursday to review the emergency caused by widespread flooding, landslides and heavy rain.
The President instructed MPs to assess local needs, convene District Coordinating Committees and ensure uninterrupted health, welfare and essential public services. Officials were told to provide continuous cooked meals and dry rations to those in shelters, trapped in homes or staying with relatives, while also preparing compensation plans for damaged houses and farmlands.
Meanwhile, the island’s Disaster Management Centre has said that the nationwide death toll has climbed to 39, with 14 people missing and more than 4,000 affected across 17 districts. Level-3 (red) landslide evacuation warnings are in effect in seven districts until Friday morning as heavy rain and winds up to 70 km/h are expected to continue.
