Fresh flooding has submerged large areas of the country's rice-growing area

"The United Nations continues to support the Government to meet urgent needs for clean drinking water, food, non food items such as sleeping mats and mosquito nets and basic shelter," said the UN in a statement issued to the BBC.

"Approximately 20 per cent of the Flash Appeal of US$ 50.6 million in emergency funding has been met so far, about half from the UN".

The statement added, "Right now the most pressing concern is to meet the life-saving needs of the flood affected people, but eventually it will be important to help rebuild their lives."

Fresh flooding has submerged large areas of the country's rice-growing area, just as the victims were recovering from devastating floods last month.

Approximately 20 per cent of the Flash Appeal of US$ 50.6 million in emergency funding has been met so far, about half from the UN The UN statement

Oxfam said it has already been supporting120,000 victims, many of whom have been flooded out of their homes twice in the last six weeks.

"The international community needs to do more," Oxfam's country manager Thusitha Siriwardana told the BBC Sinhala service, Sandeshaya.

Sri Lanka's highways ministry estimates that they would need at least $45 million to carry out urgent repairs to damaged infrastructure.

Official figures showed there were at least 21 deaths related to the latest wave of flooding.