SL commences flood recovery process
[January 16 2011]







<P>With floods receding, the Sri Lankan authorities have begun the
process of recovery, officials said Sunday.

<P>"Floods have receded mostly in the Eastern Province except for Verugal
in the Trincomalee district", said Pradeep Kodippily, Deputy Director
of the National Disaster Management Center.

<P>The health officials have sent teams to look at health issues such as
cleaning the drinking water wells affected by the floods, and mobile
health clinics were also deployed.

Meanwhile authorities said all schools being shut due to rising flood
levels in the east and central parts of the country would be re-opened
on Monday.

<P>Some 37 people were killed and 12 others went missing in the floods
which also claimed the lives of thousands of cattle and poultry,
officials said.

<P>The estimated cost of the damage is around 500 million U.S. dollars
and the damage caused to the infrastructure and facilities was only
second to the South Asian tsunami of 2004 which claimed about 40,000
lives in the island country. (Xinhua)Airport.