Death toll from Sri Lanka floods rises to 151

The death toll from devastating floods in Sri Lanka on Sunday rose to 151 as rescuers pulled out more bodies from mudslides triggered by the country's worst torrential rains since 2003 that displaced nearly half a million people.

Sri Lanka has sought international assistance. India, the first country to respond, dispatched three Navy ships with emergency supplies to help Sri Lanka. The first Indian ship reached here yesterday.

A second Indian vessel — INS Shardul — arrived in Colombo today, with a third expected tomorrow. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake received the vessel. The adverse weather conditions have caused flooding and landslides in Batticaloa, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matale, Matara, Mulaitivu, Ratnapura, Trincomalee and Vavuniya.

"The worst hit is the southern district of Galle," a UN statement said. The Nilawala River faces the possibility of a dam burst which can put the entire Matara town under water, officials said. Around 4,42,299 people belonging to 1,14,124 families have been affected in 15 districts due to the flood situation, the Disaster Management Centre said on Sunday. The death toll has reached 151 with 111 still unaccounted for, it said.