Sri Lanka is currently experiencing the northeast monsoon season but rainfall has intensified due to a cyclone

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing the northeast monsoon season but rainfall has intensified due to a cyclone

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Sri Lankan authorities deployed the military for relief and rescue operations Friday as the death toll from floods and landslides rose to 56, with another 21 people listed as missing.

Helicopters, navy boats and armoured personnel carriers are being used to evacuate marooned villagers in several parts of the country, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said, as the rain continued.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.