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Student's family evacuated in Sri Lankan floods

Neranjana ElapathaSouth of England
A video taken in Badulla Oyewatta showed the scale of flooding

A student has said her family had to leave their home after they were among thousands affected by severe flooding in Sri Lanka.

After a cyclone hit the country just over a week ago, subsequent flooding and landslides have killed more than 600 people, with nearly 200 missing.

Sithuni Mallawaarachchi said: "It is the worst situation that Sri Lanka could ever face. What we have has all gone in seconds."

A report from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) of Sri Lanka shows Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale remain under amber and red warnings due to landslide risks.

Sithuni Mallawaarachchi Sithuni Mallawaarachchi is smiling at the camera and is wearing a blue and white striped shirt.Sithuni Mallawaarachchi
Sithuni Mallawaarachchi has been staying in touch with her family back in Sri Lanka

Miss Mallawaarachchi, the founder of the University of Reading's International Sri Lankan Society, moved from Kandy in Sri Lanka to study at the university in 2024.

"[My family] is not in their house anymore because of the alerts. My family is in our relative's house. They are trying to stay calm and see what happens next," she said.

"For the last two weeks it has been hard. I can stay [in touch] over the phone, but I am not in Sri Lanka."

Tharnga Sanjeewa A picture showing damage from a landslide.Tharnga Sanjeewa
Tharnga Sanjeewa aftermath of the flood - shows a house being taken away from the landslideTharnga Sanjeewa
Pictures taken in Passara and Pelgahatenna showed the damage following the floods.
The DMC said more than 5,000 homes had been damaged due to the flood and landslides.

A temple in Essex collected donations from its community to send to Sri Lanka.

Mahamevnawa International Meditation Centre, in Basildon, has been sending donations to local volunteers in the country.

The Venerable Mahindasiri Thero, a monk at the Basildon temple, said the volunteers had been critical in providing physical shelter and emotional support.

Mahindasiri Thero Picture of The Ven Mahindasiri Thero wearing a blood orange robe.Mahindasiri Thero
The Venerable Mahindasiri Thero has been a monk for more than 10 years

A retired Sri Lankan doctor living in the UK and his wife joined the effort to provide food, shelter and supplies.

Dr Saman Perera, who lives in Southend, went to Sri Lanka with his wife for a holiday at a hotel run by his family.

When the flood waters were at their worst, the couple were in Gampola, one of the affected areas hit by the flooding.

At the hotel, they housed local people who escaped to higher ground.

"We had to give refuge to these families. Some of them had small children with them and a lot of people were in need of help," Dr Perera said.

The couple are are now in Colombo and hope to return to the UK before Christmas.

Dr Saman Perera Picture of Dr Perera wearing a blue shirt. He has white hair and is wearing glasses.Dr Saman Perera
Dr Saman Perera arrived in Sri Lanka on the 24 November with his wife

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