Colombo, May 23: Si Lanka today called for urgent help to rebuild at least 300 schools damaged by unprecedented floods in the island's south where some 30,000 students lost their books. Education minister Karunasena Kodituwakku said the authorities were stretched to the limit and were seeking stationary, books and furniture to re-equip the schools affected by the floods.
He said at least 100 schools had been completely destroyed while another 200 were damaged.

"In some places, the school buildings have completely collapsed or been buried in mud," Kodituwakku said. "In all the 300 schools, we can't find any furniture or books. All that is lost."
"We can arrange school uniforms and text books, but we need help with other stationary and building materials. We are not in a position to do it ourselves at the moment."

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The flash floods and mudslides have claimed at least 26 5 lives and left some 200,000 families homeless, mainly in the southern and Sout H-Central regions of the island.

Indian Navy personnel have been helping the relief operations, while Australia, Britain, Germany, Norway, Japan, the Maldives and the United States have also extended assistance.
The government has put off an island-wide high school examination because of the floods. Bureau Report