Sri Lanka has closed schools across its central highlands after torrential rains caused mudslides and flash floods that killed at least seven people and injured others. Authorities report 129 houses damaged and nearly 3,500 people evacuated, with navy and army units deployed for rescue operations. The hardest-hit tea-growing districts, including Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, are still recovering from Cyclone Ditwah, and officials say school reopenings will depend on weather and safety assessments.
Sri Lanka Closes Schools After Deadly Floods and Mudslides in Central Highlands
People walk across a mud-covered road following heavy rain in Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka, on August 4, 2026 [AP]
Sri Lanka has ordered the closure of schools across its central highlands after torrential rains triggered deadly mudslides and flash floods that killed at least seven people and injured others. The intense downpours struck the country's mountainous tea-growing belt, a region still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah.
Pradeep Kodippili, spokesperson for the government's Disaster Management Centre, said five people died after being buried when mudslides overran two houses in the central region and two others were killed in flood-related incidents. The rains and flooding have damaged 129 houses and forced the evacuation of nearly 3,500 residents.
Naval and army units have been deployed to reach people trapped by rising waters. Footage shown by local broadcaster Hiru TV captured troops wading through submerged streets and using boats to rescue stranded families. Emergency teams are also setting up temporary shelters and assessing road and infrastructure damage.
People walk across a mud-covered road following heavy rain in Nawalapitiya, Sri Lanka, on August 4, 2026 [AP]
High-Risk Terrain and Recent History
The affected areas, including the tea-growing districts of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, lie on steep terrain long recognised as prone to landslides during the monsoon season, when saturated hillsides can give way under sustained rainfall. The same tea-belt suffered devastating landslides and flooding linked to Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025, which killed nearly 640 people and caused an estimated $4.1 billion in damage.
Outlook and Response
Officials say the decision on when to reopen schools will depend on how the weather develops over the coming days and on safety assessments of damaged areas. Authorities warned residents in vulnerable zones to heed evacuation orders as repeated extreme weather events within a nine-month window continue to strain Sri Lanka's disaster response capacity.
By the numbers: 7 dead, 129 houses damaged, nearly 3,500 people evacuated.
Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing, with authorities coordinating military, humanitarian and local resources to assist affected communities and restore essential services.
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