Jan 09, Colombo: Rains lashing again in Sri Lanka have caused further suffering to the lives of the people in the northern, eastern and central parts of the island .

Incessant rains in central hills had inundated the tourist city of Nuwara Eliya and reports from the area say even the entrance to the President's holiday bungalow in the city is blocked due to floods. The golf course and the race course of the tourist city were also under water yesterday.

Disaster Management Centre reported that the death toll due to adverse weather since December 17 has been increased to 46 now.

An official of the Irrigation Department said that 48 of the 71 reservoirs managed by the department are spilling.

As the major reservoirs and the streams were overflowing in the sacred city of Anuradhapura and some offices and the pilgrims' rests were also under water.

Reservoirs in Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts are also spilling, officials said.

Meanwhile the Meteorology Department predicted more showers to occur at times in the North, Eastern, North Central, North Western, and Uva provinces.

Thundershowers will develop at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon and night, the weather service said while showers are possible in the Western and North-western coastal area in the morning.

The Department warned that monsoonal winds can be strengthened up to 60 km/hour in occasions over the country and surrounding sea areas.