• Spill gates of many reservoirs opened 
• Mannar District was the worst affected 
• Steps taken to provide urgent needs of affected families 

By Ranjith Rajapakse, Dayaratne Embogama and Romesh Madusanka 

Several areas in the country had been affected by floods and roads obstructed by mounds of earth, due to the heavy rains experienced at present. 

 Meanwhile, the hydropower reservoirs had reached spill level that resulted in the opening of spill gates. Asst. Director of the Nuwara Eliya District Disaster Management Unit Ranjith Alahakoon said two spill gates in the Canyon reservoir and three in the Laxapana reservoir were open. He said the Maussakele reservoir was on the verge of spilling over. 

Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers said Canyon, Laxapana, New Laxapana, Polpitiya, and Wimalasurendra hydropower complexes were in full swing generating power to the maximum capacity. 

Irrigation Engineer Lakshitha Rasika Hemal said eight spill gates in the Rajangana reservoir were open to release 5,800 cu. ft of water per second. And two in the Angamuwa tank to release spill water at a speed of 3,100 cu. ft per second. 

Meanwhile, about 650 people in three divisions in the Mannar District were facing hardships due to the flood threat. A senior official of the Mannar District Disaster Management Unit said the Mannar District was the worst affected by heavy rain and floods in the North. 

Residents of the affected areas said they were facing a health hazard and the animals affected by epidemics caused by inclement weather.  Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikkalanathan visited the affected areas to look into the needs of the people. 

The occupants in 14 families in Kalupahana area in Agalawatta in the Kalutara district were provided temporary shelter in view of the possible danger of a landslide in Galaudakanda. Divisional Secretary Darshana Ranasinghe said steps were taken to provide the urgent needs of the affected families.

• Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers said Canyon, Laxapana, New Laxapana, Polpitiya, and Wimalasurendra hydropower complexes were in full swing generating power to the maximum capacity