71 killed, 127 missing as foreign aid reaches flood-hit Sri Lanka

At least 71 people were killed and 127 others remained missing in floods and landslides triggered by the heaviest rains in Sri Lanka in over a quarter century, as offers of assistance for thousands of people including from India poured in.

Indian relief vessel INS Sunayna arrived at Colombo port today with goods from Kochi, the Lankan foreign ministry said.

Last night, India had sent its two naval ships – INS Sunayna and survey vessel INS Sutlej – and a C-17 aircraft with relief material like inflatable boats, outboard motors, diving equipment, medical supplies, electricity generators and sleeping bags, officials said.

At least 127 people remain missing at Aranayake, the site of the landslide disaster in the southwestern district of Kegalle, National Disaster Management Centre said today.

President Maithripala Sirisena urged Sri Lankans to provide shelter and donate cash or food to flood victims.

"There had been a huge outpouring of sympathy for victims with donations of food, clothing and dry rations," officials said.

Some 375,604 people remain displaced in 22 districts in Sri Lanka.

The country has begun receiving international assistance, they added.

Nearly, 300,000 people have been staying in about 500 state-run relief centres.

Meanwhile, Japan has sent emergency relief items through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, including blankets, water tanks, water purifiers and generators, electrical cables and electric plugs.

Australian government is to contribute 500,000 dollars through UNICEF. Nepal has announced to donate $100,000.

The US government offered a 3-year $1 million programme to assist with safe drinking water.

Almost a third of people have been moved from the low-lying capital, which has a population of about 650,000.

The district of Kegalle, about 100 kilometres northeast of Colombo, has been the worst hit, with the toll from two separate landslides rising to 39.

The irrigation Department said the water-levels around the Kelani River were receding at a slower pace.

"It will take at least 3 days for the levels to recede," said Prema Hettiarachchi, an irrigation official.

The Kelani over spill had flooded all suburbs north of the capital Colombo. People continued to remain in the area despite government requests to evacuate, as they fear for their property.

The meteorological department says the rains were caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, ahead of the arrival of the southwest monsoon.