COLOMBO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday instructed officials to take immediate action to ensure the safety and welfare of the people affected by floods and landslides in the island country.
The President's Office said in a statement that all ministry officials and local government agents had been provided with circular instructions to coordinate with the Ministry of Defense and the Disaster Management Center to be prepared for rapid response in the event of floods, landslides, rock falls, among others, that are occurring due to heavy rainfall.
The circular also instructs all officials to take immediate disaster mitigation and public welfare measures.
"The monitoring and coordination of these measures will take place under the supervision of the prime minister," the statement said.
Six people have died and over 5,000 affected by days of winds and heavy rains which lashed out across Sri Lanka since last week, the Disaster Management Center said here Monday.
Out of the six deaths reported, four were from Nuwera Eliya district in the central highlands which was one of the worst affected areas.
Over 600 people had been evacuated to safer locations while over 120 houses have been partially or fully damaged.
A landslide warning has also been issued for certain districts, including Ratnapura in south central Sri Lanka and those living in landslide prone areas have been warned to evacuate immediately.
The Meteorology Department in its latest weather update said more rains are expected in the coming days.
