"As the flood waters rose above 10 feet, we were completely submerged within an hour of heavy showers" said 46 year-old Ranasinghe of Seruwita East, who braised through the receding waters to meet us at the top of the road.

Southwest monsoon rains experienced by Sri Lanka since the beginning of June have wrought havoc in a number of southern districts, including Kalutara and Galle. As many as 400,000 people may have been affected, with over 150,000 displaced in the south as flood waters recede.

World Vision is gearing up to address the food need of 4,000 families by distributing a dry food pack sufficient for five days for an average family of four.

Among the affected eight districts Kalutara and Ratnapura are the worst hit. Galle,Gampaha, Nuweraeliya, Kegalle and Colombo are also among the affected areas.

At a time when the cost of living has shot up to 29%, and the cost of rice - the staple food of Sri Lanka - has gone up to Rupees 80-100 per kilo, flood victims are bound to struggle to make ends meet. Those displaced by the floods are mainly farmers and part time part time labourers.

World Vision does not have an Area Development Programme in Kalutara. However, the organisation has responded to past natural disasters such as floods and landslides and made a significant contribution to reconstruction efforts after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.  

No reports of disease outbreak in Kalutara
Chamil Eranda, the Public Health Inspector (PHI) in the neighboring village said in the past five days no major infectious diseases have been reported. However, there is a break out of skin infections among children in the form of small blisters, he said.  

The PHI is already equipped to treat a diarrhea outbreak. But says prevention of disease is always the best method. Water pumps are in great need as is well cleaning so water can be purified and made safe for drinking again. The PHI says there is also a need for loud speakers, so important notices can rapidly be announced to the public.   

Children find the waters very amusing. They are swimming, playing ball or riding canoes not realizing the danger of playing in flood waters.

Approximately 1208 acres of paddy fields are reported to be inundated in the Dodangoda division. All 410 families – the entire population of Seruwita North and East - are flood victims, said the government Representative Asoka. Altogether, there are 7,000 victims in the different villages of Dodangoda.

"The community gathered in one place," said Lalith Gunawardene, 39, who is also a victim of the worst affected area in the Dodangoda division in Kalutara.  

"We spent the nights keeping watch in fear. The government representative for our village, who is a lady, came every morning and night in a boat with food for us. If she was not there we would have starved," she reflected.