Sri Lanka floods leave 'over 300,000' homeless

Severe flooding in eastern Sri Lanka have left 32 people dead and over 300,000 people homeless.

The United Nations said it will launch an emergency appeal for aid to help victims of the floods.

More than 30,000 army, navy, police and air force personnel are currently battling to provide urgent aid to people hit by the disaster.

Nearly one fifth of rice fields have been inundated, disrupting the livelihoods of farmers and causing an immediate price increase in markets across the country.

Charles Haviland reports.