By Uditha Jayasinghe

KOTHMALE, Sri Lanka, Dec 4 (Reuters) – Residents of Kithulbadde village in central Sri Lanka say they have been left in the lurch after last week’s deadly cyclone and many are stuck in relief centres as damaged infrastructure has made them wary of returning home.

About 479 people were killed in the storm, which brought intense winds and the worst floods in a decade, and affected 1.2 million. Another 350 are missing, government data shows.

With the cyclone leaving deep fissures in the earth and cracked walls in homes, many of those in relief facilities are staying put.

“People are scared to go home, they don’t feel safe,” said Madullegedera Chandralatha, 57, a resident of Kithulbadde, a scenic village nestled in the midst of hills among tea plantations.

A total of

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