GALE FORCE WINDS

As of yesterday the death toll resulting from the stormy weather that lashed the coastal belt has risen to 40 with 38 of them being fishermen whose boats had reportedly capsized in mid sea, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

Twenty one of the fishermen were from Galle, seven from Kalutara and ten from Colombo while two others were reported to have drowned in Puttalam and Kolonna in Ratnapura in flood waters.

According to the DMC, 30 other fishermen and 37 fishing boats were still missing.

The bodies of two fishermen were washed ashore near the Bambalapitiya Railway Station last morning with the police and other onlookers saying more bodies were expected to be found in the next few days.

The fishermen were residents of Batuwita and Koralawella in Moratuwa and their bodies were spotted by train passengers, who called the police.

The grieving family members of the two fishermen arrived at the scene to identify the bodies which were later taken to the Borella Police Mortuary. Three bodies had been found on Sunday in the same area and more were expected to be washed ashore.

The police said another body had also been found yesterday morning along the Bentota coast.

According to the DMC at least 12 bodies were found in Balapitya and seven in Beruwala. A number of bodies had also been found in Dehiwela, Moratwua and Ratmalana.

In the meantime at least 30 were reported missing in Balapitiya,

About 30 people were still missing while 29 persons were injured. The Sri Lanka Navy is continuing relief operations while carrying out its rescue operations

Beruwale, Ratmalana and Dehiwela and at least 557 families have

been displaced.

DMC Spokesman Sarath Lal said 30 people were still missing. Some 29 persons were injured. Nearly 101 houses were destroyed while 2185 houses were partly damaged. One person in Colombo returned safely last morning. Some 21 bodies which that were lying in the Balapitiya Hospital mortuary were identified last afternoon.Investiga- tions are continuing to determine whether there had been any shortcomings with regard to early warning system provided to the fishermen about the bad weather.

Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera assured that action would be taken against those responsible in the Department of Meteorology if any one of them were found guilty of any shortcoming when issuing the bad-weather warning to fishermen.

The Sri Lanka Navy is continuing relief operations while coordinating with the respective institutions to strengthen the rescue missions.

Four ships and five Fast Attack Crafts (FAC’s) have being deployed to carry out rescue missions in the Ratmalana, Beruwala, Induruwa and Galle Face areas.

Additional reports by Janath De Silva and Yasas Mendis