Prevailing inclement weather has created a flood threat in several areas of the country. Ratnapura district was the worst affected with torrential rains and floods forcing the closure of several schools in the District this morning.

Ferguson Girls’ School, Sumana Girls’ School, St. Aloysius College, St. Lucus College and Mihinduvidyalaya were among the schools closed due to the heavy rain and floods.

Principals of other schools said attendance had dropped by 70 per cent in the schools affected by floods.

Many of the roads in Palindanuwara and Bulathsinghala Divisional Secretariat divisions had gone under water due to the torrential rains experienced in the area for more than three days.

An Engineer of the Kukeleganga project said the reservoir reached spill level last morning compelling them to open the spill gates.  The Divisional Secretaries of the respective areas said they had not received any reports of displaced families. However, the Grama Niladharies of the area have warned the people living in the slopes to be cautious of possible earth slips.

Meanwhile the spill gates of Laxapana and Canyon hydro power reservoirs were opened for a few hours when the two reservoirs reached spill level on Thursday night (28) due to the torrential rain experienced in the catchments.

A senior official of the Laxapana hydro power scheme said the spill gates would be opened at regular intervals if prevailing inclement weather continued. He said the water level in the Maussakelle and Castlereagh reservoirs were also rising.

 Meanwhile Coordinating Officer of the Nuwara Eliya District Disaster Management Centre Erandana Hemawardene warned the people living in the low lying areas of the Kelaniya River from Canyon to Polpitiya to be cautious of possible sudden influx of water. (Gamini Illangatilleka, S.Madawala and Lasantha Niroshan)