Sri Lankan military personnel conducting search operations at the site of the deadly landslide in Meeriyabedda today recovered another body, bringing the official death toll to 12, as authorities mull halting further digging.

Military personnel this morning discovered the body of a woman buried under the earth due to the landslide, the deputy director of the Disaster Management Center (DMC), Pradeep Kodippili told Ada Derana.

He stated that search operation carried out so far have resulted in the recovery of 12 bodies and that, however, information has been received that around 19 persons are still unaccounted for.

Meanwhile relatives of the missing landslide victims have requested authorities to halt further search operations at the site.

The government is to hold a discussion on the matter today while sources say further search operations will likely be halted from today.

Major General Mano Perera said the relatives of missing victims have indicated their consent to halt search operations.

“They have told us that they would be happy if the army stopped search operations. They do not want to see the bodies of the dead as it would add to their grief,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Disaster management minister Mahinda Amaraweera who toured the area yesterday said that the relatives must give written consent to halt the search operations.

The tragedy was marked by contradictory claims on figures of people missing. The figure dramatically dropped from initially feared 300 to around 30.