COLOMBO: Floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains have left at least seven people dead in Sri Lanka ‘s tea-growing mountainous regions and forced the closure of some schools, officials said Tuesday. Heavy downpours over the last two days flooded homes, fields and roads in many parts of the country. The mountainous areas in the central region are the worst hit, according to the government’s Disaster Management Center.

Sri Lanka has closed schools in its tea-growing mountainous regions as heavy rains triggered floods and mudslides that left five people dead and three wounded, officials say.

Mudslides and floods are among the most destructive natural disasters, causing severe damage to lives and property in Sri Lanka every year.