Spokesperson for United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Stephane Dujarric has said the body will continue to support the Sri Lankan Government in its efforts to respond to disaster relief.

Dujarric said the International NGOs were organising a joint rapid assessment in 11 districts starting Saturday to obtain further information on the needs on the ground, reports the Colombo Page. He added that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was also helping to strengthen local UN coordination and assist agencies in joint resource mobilisation efforts.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, as of Monday, 242,927 people are still displaced and 348,476 people are affected by the floods and landslides in 22 districts of Sri Lanka.

Also read Sri Lanka floods: Death toll reaches 84 as more bodies pulled out

Sri Lanka is struggling with the heaviest rains in over a century. The heavy rains have pounded Sri Lanka since last weekend, triggering huge landslides that have buried some victims in up to 50 feet of mud. Sri Lankan army and other rescuers pulled out 15 more bodies in the last 24 hours in the worst-hit district of Kegalle, about 100 kilometres from here.

President Maithripala Sirisena urged Sri Lankans to provide shelter and donate cash or food to flood victims. "There had been a huge outpouring of sympathy for victims with donations of food, clothing and dry rations," local officials said. Some 375,604 people were displaced in 22 districts in Sri Lanka. The country has begun receiving international assistance, they added. Nearly, 300,000 people have been staying in about 500 state-run relief centres.