Gale force winds swept through Matara, Hambantota and Gampaha on Tuesday night and early yesterday morning causing severe damage to 88 buildings

Deputy Director of Media at the Disaster Management Centre, Sarath Lal Kumara told The Island that the affected buildings were partially damaged but one house in Ranna was completely destroyed. He said the winds blew away the roofs of most of the houses, hotels and shops rendering entire vicinities roofless in a matter of seconds.

Twenty nine houses in Utiyana, 25 in Ranna, 12 shops and 18 houses in Mirigama and four hotels in Polhena, Madiya were damaged due to the gale force winds that swept through those areas, he added.

However, no injuries to persons had been reported and there was no necessity to offer them dry rations as they were not seriously affected, he said.

~ www.island.lk ~ By Madura Ranwala