News
Floods easing, but rain will increase
Wind speeds to pick up Pic by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
More downpours and winds are expected as the south-west monsoon hangs heavily over the island, but floods are gradually subsiding, the Department of Meteorology’s Deputy Director of Forecasts, Meryl Mendis, said.
Heavy falls of about 50-100mm are likely in some areas, particularly in the south-west.
Gusty winds about 50kmph at times can be expected, particularly in the Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces.
“Wind speeds will increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Kankasanthurai, also in the sea area from Pottuvil via Hambantota,” Mr Mendis said.
Fishermen were warned that wind speeds across both deep and shallow seas around the island could rise to 70kmph.
High winds and lightning accompanying the torrential rains in Colombo, Kalutara and Puttalam brought down trees in many places.
Activity in Colombo and adjoining areas was disrupted with roads around Grandpass, Maligawatta, Ward Place, Baseline Road, Ingurukade Junction, Thunmulla, Ingram Junction, Armour-Barber Road and Havelock Place being inundated during the week.
At least 52 houses in Homagama were partially destroyed by the weather, causing hardship to 182 people, the Assistant Director of the Colombo District Disaster Management Centre, D Jayaweera, said. Another 1,640 people needed help in Kotte, with 142 having to seek shelter in centres for the displaced. A girl died after falling off a wall in Nawagamuwa.
Mr Jayaweera said that immediate steps have been taken to give relief to those suffering property damage.
In the Puttalam District, more than 3,000 people are in hardship due to rains and flooding, particularly in the Nattandiya, Diyakaduwa, Wennappuwa and Maha Wewa Divisional Secretariats. Thirteen houses were partially destroyed.
“Two displaced centres have been set up in Nattandiya to accommodate those who have been worst affected by the floods,” Puttalam District Disaster Management Centre Assistant Director A Alahakoon said.
Rising water levels in the Wennappuwa, Mahawewa and Paru Wewa tanks caused some of the flooding, with drainage channels having to be opened. In the Paru Wewa area, residents living on both sides of the canal saw their homes inundated.
Landslide warnings for Kegalle, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara and Kalutara Districts have been lifted, the National Building Research Organisation’s Senior Scientist, Dr Wasantha Senadeera, said.