Adverse weather causes minor floods

•  The Eliyakanda hill, bounded by the Matara-Kataragama main highway, was undergoing erosion 

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama and Yohan Perera   

A minor flood situation was reported from some areas in Galle, Matara and the Kalutara District with water levels of the Kalu Ganga, Ging and Nilwala rising. 

The Irrigation Department therefore declared that there is a minor flood situation at Millakanda in Kalutara District, Baddegama in Galle District, Pitabeddara, Thalagahagoda in the Matara District while an alert was issued in Dunamale in Gampaha as the Attnagalu Oya was rising,   Highest rainfall of 152mm was recorded from the Ratnapura district, while a rainfall of 136mm was recorded from Matara, 100mm from Galle and 86mm from Galle.   

Accordingly, heavy rains above 100 mm was forecasted in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts within the next few days. 

Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department issued a high-risk level (Red) warning even today for seven districts, including Gampaha, Kegalle, Colombo, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara.   

Following inclement weather, civilian life in several areas of the country was disrupted. 

 
The Eliyakanda hill, bounded by the Matara-Kataragama main highway, was undergoing erosion which resulted in obstruction to traffic. Police had taken steps to temporarily close the beach road. In another incident, the Matara-Colombo main highway was obstructed at Walgama by the fall of trees.   

Traffic on Kamburupitiya-Mulatiyana road had been obstructed by an earth slip at Ranchagoda, Akuressa-Deniyaya road, and Matara-Hakmana road by the fall of trees.   
The Mulatiyana-Kamburupitiya road had gone under water due to the overflow of the Lenabatuwa tank.   

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) and the district Disaster Management Centre warned people living in Mulatiyana, Akuressa, Pitabeddara, and Kotapola areas to be cautious of possible earth slips and the people living in the low-lying areas of Nilwala Ganga, Polatumodera river, and Kiramaraoya rivers of a high probability of flooding.   
A senior official of the Hatton police said misty conditions  prevailed in Watawala, Karolina, Kadawala, Diyagala, and Ginigathena on the Hatton-Colombo highway, and in Patana, Dimbula, Lindula, Nanuoya, and Radella areas. He warned drivers to be cautious of possible danger when driving along the affected roads where the mist prevented a clear view of the road.   
There is a high possibility of roads running through the flood plains of Kuda Ganga being inundated, and residents and motorists passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution. By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of hydrological stations along the Kuda Ganga, it is warned that there is a possibility of a flood situation in low-lying areas of the Kuda Ganga valley situated in Palinda Nuwara and Bulathsinhala D/S Divisions.   

 (Additional reporting Krishan Jeewaka, Sudath Hewa and Ajithlal Shanthudaya)