Rains batter hill country, roads blocked, reservoirs swell

Torrential rains pounding the western slopes of the Central Hills have thrown daily life and transport into disarray, with police warning motorists to drive cautiously on the Hatton–Colombo and Hatton–Nuwara Eliya roads as strong winds and thick mist added to the hazards.

Reservoir engineers said yesterday that water levels at Castlereigh and Maussakelle are now just a few feet below spill level, 5.3 feet and 7.9 feet respectively, as relentless downpours continue.

With the reservoirs nearing capacity, hydropower stations at Canyon, Laxapana, New Laxapana, Polpitiya and Wimalasurendra are generating electricity at full throttle.