A Sri Lankan woman living in the UK has joined the effort to provide food, shelter and supplies to the desperate people affected by extreme weather.
Irie Perera, from Southend, Essex, travelled to her homeland for a wedding just days before torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides.
She promptly switched her focus from celebrations to helping those in need,working with local charities and community groups.
“It’s absolutely devastating,” she said.”I’ve seen villages fully underwater, people have lost everything – their homes, their livelihoods.”
Ms Perera has been co-ordinating donations of essential items, including food, water, medicine and clothing, and helping to distribute them to affected communities.
“the need is immense,” she said. “people are stranded, they’re hungry, they’re scared. We’re doing everything we can to help, but it’s a huge challenge.”
She has launched an online fundraising campaign to support the relief efforts and is appealing for donations from people in the UK.
“Any amount, no matter how small, will make a difference,” she said. “It will help us provide food, shelter and hope to those who have lost everything.”
The floods have affected hundreds of thousands of people across Sri Lanka, with many forced to evacuate their homes.
The government has declared a state of emergency and is appealing for international assistance.