Storm‑Ravaged Sri Lanka: Five Lives Lost in a Rainstorm Rumble
May 21, 2018 – Colombo
Picture a picture‑perfect storm: thunder, lightning, sudden pipe‑flooding, and the blast of a tree tumbling to the ground. That’s what a Monday morning in Sri Lanka turned into. Five people went down the drain – literally. Both weather and wildlife took a turn for the worse.
How the Trouble Rolled In
- Lightning Zapped: Three folks died when a spark hit the trees.
- Landslide Crash: Another tragedy – a sudden slope gave way.
- Tree Terror: The fifth death came when a tree fell during the downpour.
The Disaster Management Centre said the river banks were overflowing, forcing families out of their homes. Four districts have been put on “red alert” for any landslides.
“Keep Your Eyes Peeled,” Says the Spokesman
Pradeep Kodippili spoke for the centre and urged people in the four hot zones to stay on guard. “We’re saying to everyone—be alert and avoid that risky hill side!”
“Floods are forcing evacuations, but the army is on the front line.”
Army recruits, armed with 25+ boats, are bracing for the tidal disaster. Sumith Atapattu did the memo to Reuters that troops are on the scene.
Monsoon May, typically the wettest month in the South
Monsoon storms run through the island from May through September, with the coast often soaked by November‑February NW monsoons. In short, the rain and its aftermath don’t make you feel great!
Tea Tangles & Economic Woes
- Heavy rain and brief droughts threaten tea – Sri Lanka’s big export queen bringing in about $1 billion in trade.
- Yet the weather this year hasn’t shaken the stock market, but plantation firms might feel the pinch.
- In 2017, Sri Lanka’s growth dipped to the lowest point in 16 years (just 3.1%) after a deadly flood that killed over 100 and a long drought.
So, as the island lathers under monsoon fury, authorities urge residents to keep an eye on the sky, avoid slick slopes, and trust that help is T‑shaped and swimming-ready.
