Heavy Rains Trigger Floods, Landslides In Sri Lanka; 40 Dead, Several Missing

Last Updated:November 28, 2025, 09:45 IST

Floods and landslides in Sri Lanka killed at least 40 and damaged over 425 houses, with Badulla worst hit. Parliament sittings were postponed due to severe weather.

People walk past a section of a highway blocked by a landslide caused by heavy rain in Badulla, Sri Lanka, on Thursday. (Image: AP)

Floods and landslides triggered by days of heavy rain have claimed at least 40 lives and left 10 people injured across Sri Lanka this week. The devastating landslides and floods have also left 21 people missing, prompting a search operation.

The central tea-growing district of Badulla suffered the worst devastation. According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), 21 residents were buried alive when mountain slopes collapsed onto their homes overnight. In the neighbouring district of Nuwara Eliya, four more people were killed similarly. Additional fatalities were reported in other parts of the country as the severe weather persisted.

The DMC said more than 425 houses were damaged by mudslides, forcing thousands of people from nearly 1,800 families into temporary shelters. Officials warned that river levels were rising steadily, urging people in low-lying regions to evacuate to safer ground.

Parliament Sittings Postponed Due To Severe Weather

Further, Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Thursday postponed its scheduled sittings for Thursday and Friday in the wake of severe weather conditions. The business slated for the two days will be taken up during extended sessions on Monday and Tuesday.

The meteorological department had issued a red alert for Thursday, warning of cyclonic storms and predicting rainfall exceeding 200 mm in the northern, north-central, and north-western provinces.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka, as a safety measure, also suspended train services and shut down several major roads amid landslides and widespread flooding, officials said Thursday. Sri Lanka is currently in the midst of its north-east monsoon season, but the rainfall has intensified due to a depression developing east of the island, the DMC added.

The severe weather, which began last week and intensified over the weekend. Torrential downpours have inundated homes, farmlands and vital road networks, leaving communities stranded and forcing authorities to ramp up emergency responses.

Disaster management teams are working to clear blocked roads and assist residents trapped by rising waters, while warnings remain in place for regions at risk of further landslides. Authorities have urged the public to avoid travel in severely affected zones as unstable slopes and fast-moving floodwaters continue to pose significant dangers. Emergency teams remain on high alert as forecasts indicate continued heavy rain in several districts.

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