200 families feared buried in landslides<br /> 230,000 people forced from homes<br /><br /> Rescue efforts hampered by powercuts<br /><br /> At least 200 families are feared buried beneath massive landslides in central Sri Lanka.<br /><br /> A search effort is focusing on the town of Aranayaka, which bis 100 km north east of the capital Colombo.<br /><br /> So far only 17 bodies have been recovered.<br /><br /> Three days of heavy rain have unleashed piles of mud and debris. Power cuts and blocked roads are hampering rescue operations.<br /><br /> More than 220,000 people have been forced from their homes – President Maithripala Sirisena visited survivors in a Buddhist temple being used as a temporary refuge.<br /><br /> Over 200 families feared buried in Sri Lanka landslides https://t.co/BEFOamCTOq (Photos: AFP) pic.twitter.com/XjCBYOAoaN— Jessica Durando (@JessicaDurando) May 18, 2016<br /><br /> Meanwhile, officials in other badly-hit parts of the island have appealed to the public to send water, dry food rations and sanitary items for those affected.<br /><br /> Flooding a
