• DMC warns of floods if rain continues

By Yohan Perera

Sri Lanka is heading for fresh floods in the coming days in addition to the havoc already caused by adverse weather conditions with five persons killed and 6,034 persons affected, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said in a statement yesterday.

 DMC said in a statement that water levels of Deduru Oya, Maha Oya, Kelani, Gin, Kalu, Nilwala, Attanagalu Oya, Bentara Ganga and Kala Oya are reaching dangerous levels and warned of fresh floods during the coming days.

This is in addition to the havoc that has already been caused by adverse weather conditions where five have been killed and 6,034 affected in 11 districts including Colombo, Galle, Puttalam, Badulla, Mannar, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle and Ratnapura. Deaths were reported from Badulla, Kegalle, Mullaitivu and Puttalam. Two deaths have been caused by lightning.
The highest rainfall of 126 mm was recorded from Ratnapura while 77 mm of rain was reported from Seethawaka, 80 mm from Elagawa, 76 mm from Baddegama, and 60 mm from Peradeniya.

Very heavy showers above 150 mm are expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara- Eliya district during the coming days. Heavy showers of about 100 mm are expected at some places in North-western and Northern Provinces and in Matale, Galle and Matara Districts. 

Landslide warnings have been issued in Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Ratnapura Districts.

The adverse weather condition is caused by the convergence situation within the vicinity of Sri Lanka. According to the Department of Meteorology, convergence is the term used for the meeting of winds that emerge from two hemispheres.

• Landslide warnings have been issued in Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Ratnapura Districts