Over 10,000 Sri Lankans affected by inclement weather

Over 10,000 individuals have been affected by prevailing heavy rains and strong winds, Deputy Director of Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre Thusitha Waidyarathne told journalists on Monday.

Addressing the media on the effects of prevailing heavy rains, he said 10,299 people from 3,518 families had been affected by Monday morning, according to a Xinhua report.

Meanwhile, two people have been injured and three houses partially damaged, Waidyarathne said, adding that the two injured are from the Anuradhapura district.

The heavy rains and strong winds are due to the start of the southwest monsoon, and prevailing conditions will continue, he said.

Meanwhile, the country's meteorological department said heavy showers above 100 millimetres are likely in many districts this week.