News
After heatwave, heavy rain comes again; Met department warns of lightning and landslides
Ratnapura: Landslides and flooded roads. Pix by Lasantha Niroshan Perera
The rain in the south western part of the country is expected to spread and the wind speed could increase in the Northern and North western provinces, the Meteorology Department predicts.
Meteorology Department Director General Athula Karunanayake said catchment areas near hydro-power reservoirs had been receiving heavy rain for the past two days. The Castlereagh, Laxapana and Kukuleganga reservoirs are receiving sufficient rain. Rain was expected in the next few days because of heavy southwest winds, he said.
Accordingly, showers or thundershowers would occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North western provinces while heavy showers with rain above 150 mm could occur at some places in the Sabaragamuwa province and Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, the weather chief predicted.
In the Kalutara district, Kukuleganga received the highest rainfall of 135 mm. Heavy rain, accompanied by lightning, thunder and strong winds, could bring down many trees and branches and travellers were advised to be careful.
Wind speed could increase up to 50 kilometres an hour at times over the Western slope of the Central hills, in the Northern, North central and North western provinces and in the Hambantota district. People living in hilly areas, particularly landslide prone areas, and low lying areas in river basins were requested to be vigilant.
Drivers and people using roads in hilly areas were also requested to be vigilant.
“Take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by lightning. For emergency assistance please contact the local disaster management authorities,” the Met Department DG said.
Rains lashed Hatton town. Pic by Sudath H.M.Hewa
Many low lying areas in the Ratnapura district had been inundated due to the prevailing rains, the Irrigation Department’s Hydrology and Disaster Management Unit Director S. P. C. Sugheeshwara said.
“Water levels in the Kelani, Kalu, Gin Ganga and Attanagalu Oya are rising. Major flood situation reports came from the Kalu Ganga Millakanda area. People living in the low lying areas of the Bulathsinhala and Palindanuwara areas should be vigilant due to the rising water level of the Kukule and Kuda rivers due to the prevailing rains,” he said.
He said the department had issued a minor flood warnings for several low lying areas along the Deduru Oya, Ma Oya, Kelani River, Kalu River, Gin River, Benthara river and the Nilwala River.
According to the Met Deprtament predictions, rains exceeding 100 mm could be expected; Accordingly the Deduru Oya, Ma Oya, Kelani River, Kalu River, Gin River, Benthara river and Nilwala River could reach their spill levels. One of the spill gates of the Kukuleganga reservoir had been opened due to rising water levels in the catchment areas.
Early warnings had also been issued for the Bulathsinhala and Ingiriya Divisional Secretariats in the Kalutara District and the Ganga Ihala Korale and Pasbage Korale Divisional Secretariats in the Kandy District.
Early landslide warnings were issued for Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Nuwara Eliya districts – Bulathkohupitiya, Aranayake, Yatiyantota, Deraniyagala and Ruwanwella Divisional Secretariats in the Kegalle District and Kotapola and Pitabeddara Divisional Secretariats in the Matara District, and the Ganga Ihala Korale and Pasbage Korale Divisional Secretariats in the Kandy District.
Meanwhile, Level 2 amber warnings had been issued to Bulathsinhala in Kalutara and Ayagama, Elapatha, Kalawana, Kolonna, Kuruwita and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district. 
The National Building Research Organisation’s senior scientist Wasantha Senadeera urged people to be watchful of possible slope failures, rock falls and subsidence, following nearly a full day of rain in many of these areas.
Nuwara Eliya District Disaster Management Assistant Director Ranjith Alahakoon said the Laxapana and Wimalasurendra reservoirs were spilling over and three spill gates in the Laxapana reservoir were open to release excess water. Dunsinane road heading towards Pundaluoya had been blocked by earth slips.
Ceylon Electricity Board media spokesperson Andrew Navamani said the rain received so far was sufficient to keep the reservoirs full for another week. Reservoirs now fulfill about 44% of our hydro power. Sri Lanka is receiving heavy rainfall and this has to continue to be able to contribute to the national grid.
Accordingly, the water level of Castlereagh reservoir is at 37.5 percent, Maussakele reservoir is at 33 percent and Randenigala reservoir is at 75.9 percent of their total capacity, while Victoria is at 30.2 percent and Kotmale is at 49.4 percent of total capacity. Meanwhile, Samanala wewa had reached 50 percent of its full capacity.
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