Four deaths reported due to inclement weather

• Water levels of major rivers rising  
• People living on the river banks asked to be vigilant and prepare for evacuation  
• Special guidelines issued on Covid prevention to be followed at welfare centres  
• Fishermen asked to refrain from venturing into the seas

By Yohan Perera and Sheain Fernandopulle   

A flash flood situation arose in four districts after the water levels of major rivers swelled, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday. Four deaths were also reported.   

DMC Spokesman Pradeep Kodippili said those living in the basin of the Kelani River in Hanwella and in Colombo, the basin of Kalu Ganga, Baddegama along the banks of Gin Ganga, Nagoda, Peradeniya along the bank of Mahaweli River and those living in Giriulla. Panadura along the banks of Nilwala Ganga and Dunamale along the banks of Attanagalu Oya in Gampaha District have to be vigilant and be prepared to evacuate as water levels of these rivers are rising.   

“DMC has issued special guidelines to be followed at welfare centres to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in the event of any evacuations,” he said.   

Floods were reported from Gampaha, Kalutara, and Galle District according to DMC. Some of the roads in these districts were said to be underwater.   

National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) warned of landslides in Galle, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Matara Districts. Three people were injured in Kegalle as a result of a minor earth slip. 

The Department of Meteorology warned that showery conditions will prevail as a result of the low-pressure situation in the Southwest of the Arabian Sea  

 
The Department of Meteorology warned that showery conditions will prevail as a result of the low-pressure situation in the Southwest of the Arabian Sea. Sea areas from Kankasanthurei via Mannar from Colombo was forecast to be rough while wind speed was expected to be 60 to 70 kmph while wind speed from Colombo - Hambantota was to be 60 kmph. Fishermen were asked to stay away from sea in the coming days.
Wind speed in inland areas is expected to be 50 kmph in the Northern, North-Central, Central and North-Western provinces. The low-pressure area is expected to convert into a depression and move from Gujarat to Pakistani coast around May 18. Rainfall of around 100 mm is expected in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-Western provinces during the coming days. The highest rainfall of 246 mm was recorded from Pitabeddara in Matara District, 244 mm in Pandegama in Kalutara District, 191 mm in Ellagawa in Kalutara District, 227 mm from Deraniyagala, 181 mm from Hanwella and 167 mm from Kitulgala.