Residents make their way through floodwaters after heavy monsoon rains in Kelaniya, on the outskirts of Colombo on June 6, 2021. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

COLOMBO - Eighteen people were killed and over 207,000 others affected following days of heavy rains and strong winds which lashed out across Sri Lanka in the recent days, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said in its latest update here Tuesday.

According to official statistics, 10 districts in the country have been severely affected by the rains while many areas remain inundated with officials carrying out rescue operations.

Over 23,000 people from the high risk areas have been evacuated to safer locations, while a search operation has been launched to locate one missing person, the Disaster Management Center said

Over 23,000 people from the high risk areas have been evacuated to safer locations, while a search operation has been launched to locate one missing person, the DMC said.

Sri Lanka is facing its annual southwest monsoons, with the Meteorology Department warning of further rains of 150 mm in the coming days. The public has been urged to be cautious especially of heavy lightning.

The department also said wind speeds were expected to increase up to 50 to 55 km per hour in Northern, North Central and North-Western Provinces.

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According to the Disaster Management Center, several areas in the country have already been inundated following the heavy rains and a warning has been issued to families living in the low-lying areas.

A landslide warning has also been issued for some districts of the country.