Haldumulla in Badulla district and Elpitiya in Galle district have been declared as high-risk landslide areas by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) in its latest early warning report.

The above areas have been issued a warning level 2 (amber alert), which requests residents to be ready to evacuate to safe areas due to heavy rainfall of over 100 mm during the past 24 hours.

There is a possibility of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cutting failures and ground subsidence in these areas, the NBRO said.

Meanwhile, Naula,Wilgamuwa, Rattota and Ukuwela in Matale district and Nagoda, Baddegama in Galle district have been issued with a level 01 warning.

The Kandy-Mahiyanganaya road at 2nd bend Ududumbara was closed due to the risk of a rock fall last evening and traffic was diverted through other roads. A team of NBRO experts is presently there to assess the risk.

The Meteorology Department said Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Uva provinces and Galle and Matara districts will receive heavy rainfall while showers are expected over most parts of the country during the afternoon and night.

Kahaduwa in Galle received the highest rainfall of 163.5 mm during the past 24 hours.

“The active cloud which was formed in the south-western sea area, off the coast extending from Colombo to Hambantota via Galle and Matara is still active over the mentioned sea area. Naval and fishing communities are requested to be vigilant in this regard,” the Meteorology Department said in a heavy rain and strong wind advisory issued today.