9 killed in Sri Lanka floods and mudslides

At least nine persons have been killed and nearly seven lakh affected in Sri Lanka due to floods and mudslides caused by heavy rains across the country in the past three days.
Some 17 districts have been hit by persistent showers, Diaster Management Centre said today.
At least 669,557 people from 186,842 families have been affected due to bad weather, it said.
The worst affected was Rilpola in the central hill district of Badulla where five people were killed.
Four others killed in other parts of the country.
Sri Lanka Railways said all train services from capital Colombo to the central hill areas of Kandy, Badulla and Matale were canceled due to the severe weather conditions.

Meteorological Department said that low pressure has increased into a depression located just off the southeast coast.
Strong winds up to 60 kms are expected and people have been asked to stay away from coastal areas.