COLOMBO, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and two others injured after heavy rains and strong winds lashed out across Sri Lanka since Thursday, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said in a report on Friday.
One death was reported in Puttalam in the north western district, while two were reported from the central highlands of Nuwara Eliya.
Army and police were conducting rescue and clearing operations.
Till Friday noon, over 550,000 people were affected by the adverse weather conditions while landslide warnings were issued in several areas.
Fishing communities were warned from going out to sea due to excessive wind speeds and over 500 people were relocated to safer areas.
The DMC said major reservoirs had also reached spill levels while the sluice gates of the Laxapana reservoir, in the central province, had been opened.
The Meteorology Department said in its latest weather update that strong winds and heavy rains would continue across the country in the coming days with heavy rains of about 100 mm expected in the Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces.
