Sri Lankan relief workers continued to assist flood and landslide victims Monday after the number of weather-related deaths rose to 169, officials said, adding that water levels are now receding, as dpa reported. Over 100 others are still missing after five days of severe weather across the country, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said. The districts of Kalutara in the west, Ratnapura in central Sri Lanka and Galle and Matara in the south were worst hit. As relief work continued, a helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Baddegama, a town in Galle district, due to a technical defect. "All 10 people including relief workers on board are safe, though the Mi-17 helicopter has sustained damages," Air Force commander Kapila Jayampathy said.
