Sri Lanka braces to face cyclonic storm ‘Burevi’

Sri Lanka is bracing to meet the threat cyclonic storm ‘Burevi’ which is expected to enter the country later in the day from the eastern coast.

The District Secretaries in the eastern coast and adjoining areas including Trincomalee, Mullaitivu and, Batticaloa were preparing for mass-evacuation of residents from vulnerable areas.

Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre for Trincomalee Kuhadas Sugunadas told TimesOnline that as many as 75,000 families from Kuchchaveli, Mutttur, Verugal and from the town area are due to be evicted.

Similar plans have been drawn in other areas as well.

The Meterological Department warned that the cyclone is very likely to move west-northwestwards and cross north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka between Trincomalee and Point-Pedro, close to Mullaithivu around tonight (within 7.00 p.m-10.00 p.m on 02 December )

This Cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 75-85 kmph gusting up to 95 kmph is very likely to move nearly westwards thereafter, emerge into Gulf of Mannar, the Department said.

Showers or thundershowers at times will occur in the Eastern, North-central, Western, Central and sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Heavy rainfall about 100mm can be expected at some places, the Department added.

The name ‘Burevi’has been provided by Maldives.