By Yohan Perera 

Flash floods have been reported along the low-lying areas which are in Kalu Ganga basin as a result of the adverse weather conditions that are prevalent in the country, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday. 

DMC said those living along the basins of Kalu Ganga in Kalutara and Ratnapura Districts should be prepared for evacuation as the water levels in the river were rising. Water levels in Kelani, Mahaweli, Gin, Nilwala, Attanagalu Oya was rising. The DMC said this is a result of heavy showers exceeding 100 mm that have been received in some areas as of yesterday. Accordingly,  Kitulgala has received a rainfall of 137.5 mm, Deraniyagala 129 mm, Nawalapitiya 176.9 mm, Ratnapura 104.8 mm, Kalutara 100 mm and Norwood 115.9. In addition, sluice gates of Deduru Oya, Canyon and Lakshapana reservoirs have been opened. 
National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has already issued landslide warnings in six districts including Kalutara, Galle, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kegalle and Kandy. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology said the cyclonic storm “YASS” located in East-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is centred near latitude 17.6N Longitude 89.0E. “This system is very likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours. 

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts by 26th May early morning,” the Department said. Department of Meteorology forecasted heavy showers or thundershowers exceeding 150 mm of rain in Sabaragamuwa province, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Districts, 100 mm of rain in Western, North-Western and Southern provinces sudden roughness, associated with sudden increase of wind speed up to 50-60 kmph in deep and shallow sea areas around the island during the next few days.