By Wasantha Chandrapala and Prasad Rukmal   

More than 14750 people in 4415 families in eleven divisions in the Ampara district have been displaced due to the prevailing heavy rainfall.   

Ampara District Secretary Chinthaka Abeywikrema said they had found shelter in safer locations.   District Secretary said the Disaster Management Centre had taken steps to provide urgent relief to the affected families.  He said paddy cultivation had been affected by floods causing crop devastation.  Meanwhile an urgent disaster management programme has been implemented in Badulla district to hold the Advanced Level examination without any obstacle.   

District Secretary Prabhath Abewardene said breakdown of transport in several areas due to earth slips causing hardship to the students appearing the examination.   
He said examination centers had been established in safer locations accessible to the students and that steps were taken to provide back hoes to the police stations during the examination to clear any obstructions to roads.