Sri Lanka closed schools in its capital Colombo and its suburbs on Monday as heavy rains caused flooding in many parts of the island nation.
Heavy rains over the weekend devastated many parts of the country, flooding homes, fields and roads. Three people drowned and about 134,000 people were affected by the floods, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre.
The rains and floods damaged 240 homes and nearly 7,000 people were evacuated, the centre said. Authorities have cut electricity in some areas as a precautionary measure.
Naval and army forces were deployed to rescue victims and provide food and other essentials.
Local TV channels showed flooded towns in the suburbs of Colombo. In some areas, water reached up to the roofs of houses and shops. Floods and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains have caused 16 deaths since May.
