COLOMBO, Oct 8 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Sri Lankan Army assigned two battalions, comprising over 500 soldiers, to assist flood relief work in the districts of Galle and Matara in the Southern Province, the Ministry of Defence said, yesterday.
The ministry said in a statement that, there was a risk of the stone embankment breaking, built to prevent floods in Matara area, due to the bad weather affecting the island country.
The army established four food distribution centres each at Malimbada, Akuressa, Thihagoda and Matara Fort, to provide food and water to the displaced people – a main challenge in the disaster relief process, the ministry said.
It added that, the army’s medical teams were prepared to provide necessary support for every regional secretariat with disaster risk in Galle, Matara and Kalutara districts.
The Department of Meteorology said yesterday that, heavy showers above 100 mm are likely to hit parts of Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, with the red alert being issued for seven districts in south-western area of the country.– NNN-XINHUA
