COLOMBO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Friday said that at least 13 people have been killed following weather related incidents.
The government information department quoted Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena as saying that 4 people are also missing.
Of the 13 dead, nine were killed when a landslide occurred in Bulathsingala.
Earlier in the day Sri Lankan authorities ordered mass evacuations as heavy overnight rain resulted in rivers overflowing and floods inundating several areas.
The Disaster Management Centre said that people were ordered to evacuate areas surrounding major rivers and areas which pose a threat from landslides.
The military was deployed to evacuate people from the worst hit areas with the Sri Lanka Air Force using helicopters to assist in the operations.
The southern towns of Galle, Matara and Kalutara and Ratnapura in Sabaragamuwa province were among the worst affected areas.
Schools in Sabaragamuwa Province were closed as a result of the floods.
The Department of Meteorology said that heavy showers were reported from the southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces overnight with Ratnapura receiving 196.7 mm of rain.
The south-west monsoon conditions are establishing over the country and the showery and windy condition are expected to continue over the south-western part of the country, the Department of Meteorology said in a statement on Friday.
It warned that heavy falls of more than 150 mm can be expected at some places.
