Sri Lanka floods: Death toll exceeds 200 in decade's worst deluge; 96 still missing

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s government said that the death toll from mudslides and floods has exceeded 200, with 96 others missing. [caption id=“attachment_3495859” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A bird’s eye view of the devastation caused by the floods in Sri Lanka. PTI[/caption] The Disaster Management Center on Wednesday said that 202 people are confirmed dead. More than 77,000 have been displaced and over 1,500 homes destroyed since rains began swamping the southern and western areas of the Indian Ocean island nation last Friday. Sri Lanka’s army, navy and air force are continuing relief and rescue efforts supported by divers and navy personnel who have arrived from India. Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena visited some of the worst affected areas over the weekend has assured immediate relief to the victims, and has pledged to build new homes. Mudslides have become common during Sri Lanka’s summer monsoon season as forests across the tropical Indian Ocean island nation have been cleared for export crops such as tea and rubber. A massive landslide a year ago killed more than 100 people in central Sri Lanka.