Floods, landslides kill seven in Sri Lanka, schools shut

At least seven people have been killed after days of torrential rain triggered severe flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka's central highlands, forcing authorities to close schools in the worst-hit districts and evacuate thousands of residents.

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), five people died when two homes were buried in separate landslides, while two others were killed in flood-related incidents.

The extreme weather has damaged at least 129 houses, with around 3,500 people relocated to evacuation centres and safer locations as a precaution.

Sri Lanka's Army and Navy have been deployed to assist rescue operations, with emergency teams using boats to reach stranded residents in inundated communities. Local television footage showed military personnel conducting rescue missions along flooded roads.

The districts of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, home to much of the country's tea-growing region, are among the areas most vulnerable to landslides and flash floods during the monsoon season.

The latest disaster comes as Sri Lanka continues to recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Dithwah in November last year, which claimed nearly 640 lives and caused an estimated US$4.1 billion in damage.

Authorities said schools in the affected areas will remain closed until weather conditions improve and damage assessments are completed. Officials have also urged residents in landslide-prone and low-lying areas to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders where necessary.