COLOMBO, Dec 11, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Thousands of people in eastern Sri Lanka have been marooned by flash floods which also left several roadways impassable, relief officials said here Friday.

Pradeep Kodippily, the national co-ordinator of the Disaster Managament Center told reporters that 28,640 families in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts had been affected.

The two districts have suffered continuous torrential rains since Wednesday with over 100 milimeters of rains having been recorded in Ampara.

The weather department has issued warnings

With heavy rains prevailing these days in areas in the North, the Governor of the Northern Province GA Chandrasiri has advised the officials of the Department of Health of the Northern Province to take steps to commence a special health programme for the prevention of Malaria and Dengue in the resettled areas.

This was mentioned at a Progress Review Meeting held at the Regional Assistant Commissioner's Office in Vavuniya yesterday by the Governor. Presently resettlement is taking place in Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu areas. Accordingly a Housing Project to build