Sri Lanka shuts schools as floods and mudslides kill 7

Torrential rains and flooding have damaged 129 houses and forced the evacuation of nearly 3,500 people, officials say. Published On 4 Aug 20264 Aug 2026Sri Lanka has shut down schools across its central highlands after torrential rains triggered deadly mudslides and flash floods, killing at least seven people and injuring several others.The heavy downpours struck the country’s mountainous tea-growing region, which is still struggling to recover from the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah. The storm killed nearly 640 people and caused an estimated $4.1bn in damage when it struck last November.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US says deal on reopening Hormuz close as Iran, Oman hold ‘positive’ talkslist 2 of 3Death toll rises to 87 in India’s flood-stricken Assamlist 3 of 3Infantino’s FIFA World Cup fallout heads to mutiny as more staff break rankend of listPradeep Kodippili, the spokesperson for the government’s Disaster Management Centre, said that five people died after being buried in mudslides that overran two houses in the central region, and two others were killed in floods. Rains and flooding have damaged 129 houses and forced the evacuation of nearly 3,500 people, he...