At least six people have died and three others were injured after days of heavy rain triggered landslides, flash floods and strong winds across parts of Sri Lanka, authorities said on Tuesday.
The severe weather has affected at least five districts, disrupting daily life, damaging infrastructure and forcing nearly 1,900 people to seek shelter at relief centres as emergency response teams continue rescue and recovery operations.
The deadliest incident occurred in the Polpitiya-Morahenagama area, where a landslide caused a mound of earth to collapse onto a house. Police said the victims included three women, aged 83, 58 and 47, and a 22-year-old man.
In a separate incident, a 53-year-old man died after falling into the Mahaweli River while attempting to cross a bridge on the Watawala-Gnanandagama road during the adverse weather.
Another fatality was reported in Solangkanda Janaudana village in Nawalapitiya, where a 67-year-old man was killed after a landslide buried a roadside shop.
Authorities said three other people sustained injuries in weather-related incidents.
The persistent rainfall has triggered flooding, landslides and strong winds in several parts of the country, prompting authorities to relocate affected residents to temporary relief centres while monitoring areas considered at risk of further landslides.
Schools in Sri Lanka’s mountainous regions have also been temporarily closed as a precaution due to the worsening weather conditions.
Sri Lanka is frequently affected by heavy monsoon rains, particularly during the southwest monsoon season, with landslides and flash floods posing recurring risks in the country’s central highlands and other vulnerable areas. Authorities routinely issue weather and landslide warnings during periods of intense rainfall, urging residents in high-risk locations to remain vigilant.
Emergency services continue to monitor the situation as adverse weather is expected to persist in parts of the country.
