Sri Lanka shuts schools as floods and mudslides kill 7

What the report says

Sri Lanka has closed schools in its central highlands after days of heavy rain triggered mudslides and flash floods that killed at least seven people, according to Al Jazeera. The shutdown affects parts of the mountainous tea-growing region, including districts such as Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, where steep slopes are especially vulnerable during the monsoon season.

Government disaster officials said five people died when mudslides buried two homes in the central region, while two others were killed in flooding. The same source said torrential rains and flooding damaged 129 houses and forced the evacuation of nearly 3,500 residents. Military and navy personnel were deployed to help reach people trapped by floodwaters, with local television showing rescue teams moving through submerged streets.

The article notes that the affected areas are still recovering from Cyclone Ditwah, which struck late last year and caused major loss of life and damage across Sri Lanka’s tea country. That earlier disaster had already strained schools, offices and emergency services. The new flooding highlights how repeated severe weather is continuing to pressure the country’s disaster response system.

Officials have not said when schools will reopen, saying the timeline will depend on how conditions develop in the coming days.