ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka North East monsoon has started lashing the island’s East, North Central and Eastern slopes of the central hills with torrential rains over the weekend, filling more than 50 tanks which are spilling ad inundating towns downstream.
The Disaster Management Centre has issued several warnings.
Schools in the north-central province have been closed, the province’s education director S M W Samarakoon said in a statement.
54 of 73 major reservoirs controlled by the Irrigation Department are spilling, Irrigation Department director (Water Management) engineer H F P S D Herath said.
8 reservoirs in the Ampara District, 10 in the Anuradhapura, 6 in Badulla, 4 in Batticaloa, 4 in Hambantota, 1 in Galle, 3 in Kandy, 5 in Kurunegala, 2 in Monaragala, 4 in Polonnaruwa, 2 in Puttalam, 4 in Trincomalee, and 1 each in Mannar and Vavunia are spilling.
He added that more than 43 mid-sized reservoirs are being discharged, while more than 93 percent of the total capacities of its reservoirs are being retained.
Rains have reduced in parts of Sri Lanka on Monday, but the northern, north-central, eastern, uva and central provinces will still get rains today, the Department of Meteorology said.
Cloudy skies are expected over most parts of the island.
“The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers,” the department said.
Traffic on the Batticaloa-Polonnaruwa main road has been temporarily suspended due to the rise in the water level of the Mahaweli River.
Due to considerable rainfall in the up- and mid- stream areas of Kala Oya, the Rajanganaya reservoir is now spilling at a rate of 17,000 cubic feet per second, the department said.
The department warned that there is a possibility of floods in the low-lying areas of the Kala Oya valley situated in Rajanganaya, Nochchiyagama, Wanathawilluwa and Karuwalagaswewa DS Divisions.
Residents and drivers through those areas were requested to be alert.
Rainfall in the up- and mid- stream areas of Deduru Oya was causing the Deduru Oya reservoir to spill at a rate of 16,000 cubic feet per second, the department said, increasing the possibility of floods in Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Mahawa, Kobeigane, Bingiriya, Pallama, Chilaw, Arachchikattuwa and Rasnayakapura DS Divisions.
Rainfall in the up- and mid- stream areas of Gal Oya could cause floods in Addalachchenei, Akkareipattu, Ampara, Damana, Eragama, Madulla, Nindavur and Samanthurei DS Divisions.
The department also warned of submerged roads around Malwatu Oya.
“The Nachchaduwa reservoir is now spilling at a rate of 3,700 cubic feet per second,” the depatment said warning of a possible major flood situation in Vengalacheddikulam, Madu, Mussalei and Nanaddan DS Divisions.
“As a result, already inundated roads may become highly vulnerable and dangerous for crossing.” Residents and vehicle drivers running through those areas were requested to be on high alert.
Disaster management authorities have been requested to take adequate actions, Director of Irrigation (Hydrology Disaster Management) engineer L S Sooriyabandara said in the statement. (Colombo/Jan20/2025)
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