AT LEAST 18 PEOPLE HAVE died and almost one million people left homeless due to severe flooding in Sri Lanka, the AFP reports.

Flash floods and mudslides have followed days of heavy rain during the island’s December-to-February monsoon season.

Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre says that over 800,000 people have been affected by the flooding and has appealed for items ranging from tea  to children’s clothing on a list of relief items.

Al Jazeera reporter Minelle Fernandez says that the floods have destroyed over 130,000 acres of rice fields, and “lots” of drinking water wells are contaminated. Over 5m water purification tablets are listed on the government’s relief list of sought-for supplies.

The Red Cross is appealing for an emergency fund of $100,000 (€78,888) to help support victims of the floods.

Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to cancel a tour of the affected regions due to worsening conditions; the central and eastern parts of Sri Lanka are most seriously affected. The navy and air force have been deployed to help rescue stranded residents and to transport emergency supplies.

Fernandez said the floodwaters are slow to recede and recent heavy rain has been hampering rescue efforts.