Sri Lanka Navy places 171 disaster relief teams on standby amid heavy rains

The Navy has placed 171 disaster relief teams on standby and deployed another 14 teams across the Southern and Western provinces as heavy rains increase flood risks in several parts of the country.

The Navy said on Monday that the precautionary measures followed the formation of a low-pressure area over the Andaman Sea, northeast of Sri Lanka in the Bay of Bengal.

Five teams from the Southern Naval Command were deployed in vulnerable areas of Galle district, including Thawalama, Hiniduma, Mapalagama and Nagoda.

Another nine teams from the Western Naval Command were positioned in Ratnapura, Nawalapitiya, Yatiyantota and Seethawaka.

The Navy said the teams were ready to assist affected communities and respond rapidly to flood-related emergencies.