Dec 24, Colombo: Floods caused by torrential monsoon rains and landslides have displaced thousands of people in some districts of the eastern, northern and north-central parts of Sri Lanka.

One death has been reported while 54,941 families consisting of 209,000 members have been affected in Ampara, Badulla, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura districts due to torrential rain and landslides, the government figures pointed.

Most families affected are in the Batticaloa district with 35,270 families comprising 124,505 members.

Most of the affected people have been settled in 49 temporary camps located at schools, charity organizations and community centres, National Disaster Relief Services Centre said.

Reports say the major reservoirs in the Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Batticaloa districts are overflowing over the bunds submerging the areas and causing heavy damage to the infrastructure facilities.

A land slide has occurred at the Haputhale and Haldummulla divisional Secretariat in the Badulla district.

The government has allocated 34 million rupees to provide for emergency needs of the flood victims. The District and Divisional Secretaries of the affected areas have been instructed to take whatever action necessary to protect the people.