Floods in Sri Lanka (based on the materials collected up until May 19)
Affected Country: The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Affected Areas:
Three Southern Provinces in Sri Lanka (Sabaragamuwa, Southern and
Western)
Dates: May 17-18, 2003
Outline: The worst flood damage since 1947. As of May 18, at least 141 persons died and
85,000 households were washed away.
Transportation:
The roads between Ratnapura and Kalwana are dangerous and impassable
due to cracks and other problems. Huge fallen rocks have blocked the road
between Ratnapura and Balangoda (on Route A4). (They cannot be removed
by heavy equipment. Removal by blasting is expected.)
Many vehicles are stalled in areas among Ratnapura. It is impossible to go to
Ratnapura and beyond (as of May 17).
The railways are in normal operation in the afflicted areas.
Measures in Sri Lanka:
Prime Minister: A disaster countermeasure office has been established by four related
ministers.
The Prime Minister inspected the affected areas on May 18.
President: Instructed government officials to support victims.
Established a countermeasures office at the Presidential Secretariat.
Instructed expenditure of the Special Budget of President in case of fund
insufficiency.
Government: Appropriated a budget of 6 million rupees (about 8 million yen) for
rescue activities in response to the requests of the Government Agents of
Ratnapura, Matale and Nuwala-Eliya.
Is going to provide a compensation of 20,000 rupees (about 26,000 yen) per
household for the people who lost homes, and a funeral cost of 15,000
rupees (about 20,000 yen) for each of deaths.
Established a round-the-clock countermeasures office at the Ministry of
Social Affairs.
Sri Lanka Red Cross:
Dispatched two teams to Ratnapura and Southern Provinces to assess the
disaster situations.
Decided on daily deliveries of relief goods to the affected areas.
Lottery Association:
Offered to contribute 410 million rupees (about 530 million yen) to the
Ministry of Finance.
Foreign Assistance:
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India: Dispatched a ship with medical staff, helicopters and relief foods to the port of
Galle.
Norway: Offered 95 million rupees (about 120 million yen) for rehabilitation of victims.
International Red Cross: A rescue team to arrive soon.
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Regional Situations (mainly as of May 18)：
Region
Death toll
Washed homes
(Location on the next page)
(confirmed)
Homeless people
Ratnapura,
81
35,000 persons
(Accurate
figure
is
Sabaragamuwa
unknown))
Province
Matale,
10
25,000 households
(Discovered bodies)
Southern Province
Hambantota,
22
200 households
Southern Province
Galle,
Southern Province
―
Flood severity
Water level elevated to 15ft at a
clock tower in Ratnapura.
―
Local damage Remarks
Flooded
police station
Mud slide
―
Water level elevated to 7ft in
Morawaka and Deniyaya Cities
Mud slide
―
―
―
―
―
Kalutara,
Not reported 10,000 households
Western Province
Note: This is a summary of written reports. “―” indicates lack of report.
The worst damage since
flood in 1947.
The second worst damage
after Ratnapura
First flood damage since
flooding in 1969
Serious damage
throughout the prefecture
Worst damage in
Hiniduma
Damage expanding in the
seaside Kalutara
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Flooded Areas
Ratnapura
Kalutara
Hambantota
Galle
Matale
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Photographs of the flood situation in Sri Lanka （１／２）
Ratnapura areas directly hit by floods
A bus endeavoring to evacuate people
from the most damaged area
Victims rescued by an Air Force helicopter
(Ratnapura)
People carrying injured to a hospital
(Ratnapura)
Villagers watching 10 bodies gathered
(Ratnapura)
People pushing a stalled bus (Ratnapura)
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Photographs of the flood situation in Sri Lanka（２／２）
A main street soaked by the overflow from
Kalu Ganga (Ratnapura)
One of hundreds of flooded houses
Tens of thousands of victims; many left
homeless.
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