The spill gates of the Kukule Ganga reservoir have been opened due to heavy rains experienced in the catchment areas yesterday (17) and the day before yesterday (16), the Irrigation Department said.

The Department’s Irrigation (Hydrology) Director, Eng. S.P.C. Sugeeshwara Bandara said a water capacity of more than 140 cubic metres per second is currently being released from the reservoir. The spill gates were opened due to the rainfall of 100mm in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western Provinces and in the Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts yesterday and the day before yesterday.

However, the people in the low-lying areas are requested not to use the rivers and streams as the water level is high. Moreover, he said this situation will continue even if there is no rain in these areas in the next few days.