The highest number of deaths was reported in Kandy and Badulla, where many areas remain cut off.
“We lost two people in our village… others are sheltering in a temple and a house that is still standing,” said Saman Kumara from the Badulla village of Maspanna.
“We can’t leave the village, and no one can come in because all roads are blocked by landslides. There is no food, and we are running out of clean water,” he told News Center website by telephone.
Victims include 11 residents of an elderly care home that was flooded in the north-central district of Kurunegala on Saturday afternoon, police said.
Sixty-nine people were rescued from a bus that became submerged in water in Anuradhapura.
Speaking after the 24-hour rescue effort, one passenger told the AFP news agency how the navy had to help them climb onto the roof of a nearby building.
“We were very lucky… while we were on the roof, part of it collapsed… three women fell into the water, but they were helped back onto the roof,” WM Shantha said.
The government has issued an appeal for international aid and urged Sri Lankans abroad to donate money to support affected communities.