COLOMBO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people have been killed and over 120,000 affected by strong winds and heavy rains that lashed out across Sri Lanka since last Saturday, Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Center (DMC) said in its latest update on Thursday.

With more rains predicted, the water levels in major rivers across the country have continued to rise, leading to emergency evacuations of people living in low areas.

DMC spokesperson Pradeep Kodippoli said hundreds of people in the north central and south of Sri Lanka had been evacuated on Wednesday night and housed in temporary shelters.

He said the police and military were also engaged in search and rescue missions and to provide relief to those who were affected by the rising water levels.

President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday instructed relevant authorities to immediately provide relief to the affected people.

The president directed officials to provide relief supplies to those affected and take steps to provide all requirements.

Sri Lanka is facing its annual southwest monsoons with the Meteorological Department in its latest weather report warning of more rains in several districts across the country in the coming days.

Over 200 people were killed and 78 people missing when the southwest monsoons caused severe floods and landslides across Sri Lanka last year.