By Ajithlal Shantha Udaya and Lasantha Niroshan  

Several areas in the Ratnapura District were facing a minor flood threat by last morning due to the torrential rains experienced in the district at present. 

Low lying areas in the Ratnapura town, Weraluwa, Angammana, Mudduwa, Watugedara, Hangamuwa, Ketamulla, Devalagama, and Petaliyanpalla, areas had gone underwater.   

Meanwhile, a mound of earth had rolled down a hill at Ratnapura – Wewellwatta road causing extensive damage to a house. Pradeshiya Sabha Member D.Priyantha said the hill had been declared an endangered location and warned of the possibility of an earth slip obstructing Ratnapura- Wewelwatta road if the inclement weather persisted.   
Irrigation Engineers said the water level in Kalu Ganga had risen to eight metres passing the minor flood level of 7.5 metres. They said 9.5 metres would mark a major flood level. Engineers said the tributaries of Kalu Ganga including Kuru Ganga, Wegan Ganga, Nirieli Ganga and Denawaka Ganga had swelled and were fast reaching flood level due to the heavy rainfall in the upper region of the rivers. People in eleven divisions in the Ratnapura District have been warned to be cautious of earth slips due to the prevailing heavy rain that would persist for the next several days. According to the Department of Meteorology, prevailing inclement weather would continue till May 26 District Secretary Malani Lokupothagama said steps were being taken to face any possible disastrous situation despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said safer locations to provide shelter to the displaced people had already been identified while providing accommodation to the families under quarantine in case of any disastrous situation caused by floods, gale force winds or earth slips. The GA said she had issued instructions to the relevant authorities to work out an effective mechanism to maintain the public utility services and the supply of essential consumer goods uninterrupted in case of emergency.