Days of torrential rain and heavy landslides has seen Sri Lanka struggle to cope with the damage it has caused as more than 240,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes, in the worst natural disaster since the 2004 Asia tsunami.
Authorities have announced on 23 May that the official death toll has risen to 92 after soldiers pulled out another eight bodies from the rubble. 109 people are feared to be buried in landslides while over 185,000 remain displaced and are being housed in schools and religious buildings.
Floodwater innundates the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboLakruwan Wanniarachci/ AFP
"We never thought the flood water would rise this much," one shop owner, Mohammaed Imtiaz, explained to Reuters, as he brushed muddy water away from his shop. "Half the shop was flooded and all the goods are destroyed. I do not know the full amount of the losses yet."
Many residents have been able to return to their homes and businesses to begin the mass clean up. Faiz Mohhmaed, who owns a hardware store, told Reuters that his "house was completely flooded. My store also was flooded. I have lost about 62 million rupees worth of goods. I have to throw away all this stuff".
Damage costs are expected to be between $1.5bn and $2bn at the minimum, according to the government.
Flood-affected Sri Lankans struggle to cross a torrent of floodwaters in Kelaniya, on the outskirts of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPA man cleans up flood damage in the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPA man stands near a damaged computer monitor inside a house which was affected by the floods in BiyagamaDinuka Liyanawatte/ ReutersPeople wait at a relief camp after being evacuated following flooding in the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPA family, affected by the floods, are seen next to their temporary shelter in KelaniyaDinuka Liyanawatte/ ReutersPeople wait at a relief camp after being evacuated following flooding in the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPA man holds a muddied mannequin inside his tailoring shop in BiyagamaDinuka Liyanawatte/ Reuters
The armed forces, who were deployed across the country to help with relief efforts, used heavy machinery to clear debris from the river.
Flooding and drought are cyclical in Sri Lanka, which is battered by a southern monsoon between May and September, while a north-eastern monsoon runs from December to February.
Shopkeepers clear up their flood damaged premises in the suburb of Kaduwela in ColomboLakruwan Wanniarachci/ AFPSri Lankan residents makes their way through floodwaters in Kelaniya, on the outskirts of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPThe Sri Lankan army distributes food to flood victims in Kelaniya, on the outskirts of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPA Sri Lankan resident examines flood damaged property in Kelaniya, on the outskirts of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPA young boy looks on at a roadside camp in Kelaniya, on the outskirts of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPSri Lankas Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake (C) visits the flooded Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPPeople look out from their home inundated by floodwaters in the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPA Sri Lankan navy soldier throws bottles of drinking water to a flood victim in the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPA navy soldier throws bottles of drinking water to a flood victim in the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboLakruwan Wanniarachci/ AFPA Sri Lankan navy soldier throws a bottle of drinking water to a flood victim in the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPPeople carry water supplies through floodwaters in the Colombo suburb of KaduwelaLakruwan Wanniarachci/ AFPFlood relief donated by the Indian government is seen next to India navy personnel at Colombo portLakruwan Wanniarachci/ AFPA young girl looks on at a roadside camp in Kelaniya, on the outskirts of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFPPeople walk past containers in Kelaniya, on the outskirts of ColomboLakruwan Wanniarachci/ AFPPeople wait at a relief camp after being evacuated following flooding in the Kolonnawa suburb of ColomboIshara S.Kodikara/ AFP
