Some hotels in Matara District underwater

Some tourist hotels in Akuressa in Matara District have been flooded affecting the tourism industry.

The Akuressa Police said few hotels in the town have been affected by the floods. “Most of the areas in Akuressa town has been underwater for the last seven days. We can clearly say few hotels are also underwater,” an officer attached to Akuressa police said.

Chandana Amaradasa who is a tour operator said large hotels have not been affected by the floods. “Large hotels which are mostly located in the coastal areas have not been affected. However they are affected with other issues such as regulating of room and food charges by the Tourism Ministry,” he said.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) however said the water levels in the Kalu Ganga, Ging Ganga and Niwala Ganga were receding as of yesterday.

Adverse weather conditions caused seven deaths while more than 75,000 people belonging to 20, 450 families in 13 districts were affected. Schools in Mattara and Galle districts were closed for two days because of bad weather.

Meanwhile President Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered immediate payment of compensation to all those who were affected. (Yohan Perera)