13 January 2024 12:00 am Views - 110
By Yohan Perera, Jaufer Khan,
Wasantha Chandrapala and Saman Palitha
Inclement weather wreaked havoc across several districts in the country, causing significant disruptions to the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination in some areas. Despite assurances from the Department of Meteorology that showery conditions would ease, Batticaloa and Badulla Districts bore the brunt of the adverse weather conditions, leaving more than 170,531 people in 50,461 families displaced in Batticaloa alone.
The Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre in Batticaloa reported that those affected were provided shelter and urgent relief, including cooked meals, at various welfare centres. Transportation in several areas came to a standstill, compounding the challenges faced by the affected communities.
In Batticaloa District, the largest reservoir reached spill level, leading to the opening of three spill gates. Batticaloa District Secretary S. Muralidaran noted that several schools were submerged or inaccessible due to flooding, prompting the closure of schools in the Batticaloa Central Zone for two days. The South Eastern University also remained closed.
Simultaneously, the Badulla District experienced disruptions, with a landslide at Uduwara obstructing the Colombo – Badulla main highway. The Badulla District Deputy Director of Disaster Management, E.M.L. Udyakumara, mentioned that the affected road segment was not suitable for vehicular traffic due to carvings caused by the landslide. Candidates appearing for the examination in Bandarawela were relocated to a special centre in Badulla Madya Maha Vidyalaya.
Although floods in Anuradhapura and Ampara Districts had subsided, some reservoirs were still at spill level. Water levels in Senanayake Samudra and Inginiyagala reservoirs reached spill level, signalling potential challenges in these areas. The aftermath of the inclement weather has not only impacted daily life but also disrupted vital educational and transportation activities across multiple districts.