By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka’s spell of severe weather is expected to gradually ease from Tuesday (4) afternoon, but authorities are warning that the risk of floods and landslides remains high in several parts of the country, with thousands displaced, six people missing and schools and a major university forced to suspend activities.
Director General of the Department of Meteorology Ajith Wijemanne has said the prevailing rainy conditions are likely to weaken from Tuesday afternoon. However, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, the Sabaragamuwa Province and parts of the Western Province are expected to continue receiving rain until this afternoon.
He has added that rainfall in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and the Sabaragamuwa Province could persist even beyond Thursday (6) due to the influence of a typhoon over the Pacific Ocean, south of Japan.
Responding to concerns over the upcoming G.C.E. Advanced Level and Grade Five Scholarship examinations, Wijemanne has said there was little likelihood of the examinations being significantly affected by the weather. A meeting with education authorities has been scheduled for Wednesday (5) to review the situation.
Nuwara Eliya hardest hit
The worst impacts have been reported from Nuwara Eliya District, where six people have gone missing following floods and landslides.
District Secretary Thushari Thennakoon has said that more than 2,331 people from 581 families have been affected by the adverse weather, while 1,734 people have been moved to seven welfare centres.
The missing, include, two people believed to have been swept away by floodwaters and four others reported missing after a landslide. Three people have also sustained injuries.
Floodwaters have inundated several houses along the banks of Dik Oya in Hatton after the stream overflowed, while a tourist hotel in Nawalapitiya was also flooded after the Mahaweli River burst its banks.
Schools, university suspend activities
As heavy rain continued, authorities ordered all government schools in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts to remain closed on Monday (3) and Tuesday (4) to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
The University of Peradeniya also suspended all academic activities and examinations until further notice.
Students able to travel safely have been allowed to return home, while those unable to do so due to the weather have been permitted to remain in university hostels. The university has said no student would be compelled to vacate hostel accommodation, while essential services on campus will continue.
Flood warnings intensify
The Irrigation Department has issued a major flood warning for low-lying areas along the Kelani River, cautioning that a major flood situation could develop within the next 24 hours.
Residents in the Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Yatiyanthota Divisional Secretariat divisions were urged to remain vigilant as heavy rainfall in the upper and middle catchment areas is expected to cause a rapid rise in river levels.
A separate warning was also issued for the Kalu River, with minor flooding expected in low-lying areas of Pelmadulla, Nivithigala, Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Ayagama and Elapatha.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority began opening the spill gates and mud sluice of the Kotmale reservoir on Monday afternoon to release excess water following continuous heavy rainfall.
Approximately 250 cubic metres of water per second is being discharged into the Kotmale Oya, prompting warnings of possible flooding in low-lying areas stretching from Ulapane to Gampola, Weligalla, Gelioya, Peradeniya, Katugastota and Polgolla.
Navy on standby, roads closed
The Sri Lanka Navy has deployed 171 disaster relief teams comprising around 700 personnel on standby to assist with evacuations and emergency operations in flood and landslide-prone areas.
The teams are prepared to relocate residents from high-risk locations and continue supporting ongoing relief efforts across affected districts.
Police have also temporarily closed the Colombo-Kandy main road between Kadugannawa and Ganethenna due to the danger of rockfalls triggered by saturated hillsides.
Motorists have been advised to use alternative routes, comply with traffic instructions and avoid the affected stretch until engineers declare the road safe.
Although weather forecasters expect conditions to improve over the coming days, disaster management authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant as saturated ground, swollen rivers and unstable slopes pose an ongoing risk across much of the central highlands and adjoining river basins.
Leave a comment