One Hundred and forty two families of Gajabapura and Monarawewa, in the Weli Oya AGA’s division, have returned to their original places and settled in temporary shelters. These people had left their villages in 1999 at the height of terrorist activities. They have now returned to their villages after 12 years.

These families still undergo many difficulties. Infrastructure of the area has been destroyed during the terror era. The schools had been abandoned and allowed to fall into decay. Almost all village roads are dilapidated. There is no drinking water available. The army commander stationed at Weli Oya and Mahaweli resident Manager provide most of the requirements to a certain extent.

A giant Emirates A380 aircraft was yesterday forced to make an unscheduled stop at the Bandaranaike International Airport for refuelling.

The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, with 517 passengers aboard, remained for over one hour until the fuelling was over, top airport sources told The Island last night.

Emirates sources claimed that it was a scheduled flight, though there was panic in travel and aviation circles that it was an emergency landing. Asked whether the Dubai bound flight from Australia was opting for Colombo as a fuelling destination, he said that  there was nothing specified at present by the Emirates management in Dubai, but he did not rule out the possibility of the option being pursed at a future date.

Floods in nine districts of the Northern, Eastern, North Central and Central Provinces, due to the heavy rains experienced over the last three days, have affected more than 35,000 people, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili told The Island that nearly 7,500 people displaced by the floods had been accommodated in 43 IDP camps in the Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Matale, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Nuwara Eliya Districts.

"Kilinochchi is the worst affected district with 15,499 people affected while 6,395 were displaced," he said adding that one death by drowning had bee reported from the Mullaitivu District.

According to him, 12095, 11381, 729 and 67 people were affected by the floods in the Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Mannar and Polonnaruwa districts respectively.

An accident occurred on the Southern Expressway at 7.10 this morning, at the 8th mile post in Kahatuduwa .

The two individuals who were injured were travelling to Colombo. They were admitted to the Horana Hospital and have now been discharged.

Navy deploys five vessels for relief operations

The Navy has deployed three big ships and two Fast Attack Crafts (FACs) in relief operations to assist flood victims and fishermen in trouble in the seas due to heavy rains and stormy weather now being experienced in the country.

Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya told The Island that since yesterday (27) morning three big ships, namely Shakthi, Sagara and Ranawickreme were deployed to scour the coastal area from Beruwala to Matara for missing fishermen.

At least 19 person had died and 43 persons were missing due to floods and gale force winds experienced in several parts of the country during the last three days, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday.

The DMC said 41 persons had been injured in 14 districts.

The District Secretaries have reported that 53,773 people belonging to 13,337 families have been displaced by the floods and winds; 630 houses have been destroyed and 5,094 damaged.

Fourteen deaths have been reported from the Matara district (11 from Weligama). Over 40 people have gone missing. Those rendered homeless are 13,430 (2,686 families), while 27 people have been injured. About 426 houses have been destroyed and 2,141 others damaged.

Three deaths were reported from the Galle District, where 13 persons were injured, while 9,186 persons (2,534 families) have been badly affected. Over 196 houses have been destroyed and 2,377 others damaged.