20 November 2023 09:37 am Views - 214
By Yohan Perera and Shane Seneviratne
Sri Lanka is beginning to experience flash floods in a few areas in the North -Western and Western provinces indicating that climate change is becoming a major issue for the island nation. Sri Lanka has been facing climate changes during the past few months as floods were reported in some areas followed by a severe drought.
Adverse weather conditions claimed a life of a motorist in Ragala while Kalawewa , Deduru Oya Maha Oya were overflowing as of late last evening bringing minor floods in Alawwa, Divulapitiya, Meerigama, Pannala and Wennapuwa in and Negombo in the Western province.
Landslide warnings were issued in the Districts of Badulla, Hambantota, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara and Ratnapura Districts.
Some roads were blocked by earth slips. These included Hali-ela Welimada Road, Bibile Lunugala Road and Badulla Andaulpatha Road.
Ratnapura recorded the highest rainfall of 135.2 mm while Kurunegala had received a rainfall of 42mm, Vavuniya 41 mm and Katunayake 65mm.
The Department of Meteorology warned of heavy showers over 75 mm in Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and in Uva provinces due to the prevailing low atmospheric disturbance over the island.