Pix by Kushan jayawardene

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama and Kushan jayawardene  

The water levels in the major reservoirs have risen by 67 percent as a result of heavy showers of more than 100 mm in the major reservoir areas, Irrigation Department Director General K.D.N. Siriwardana said.  

With the heavy rains, he said, the water levels had risen to 66 percent on Saturday (9).Accordingly, two sluice gates at the Rajanganaya had been opened, he said. Six spill gates were opened to release excess water to the Kalaoya river. They said the capacity of the reservoir stood at 81210 acre feet by last morning.

The director general requested the farmers to commence cultivation from April 15 to the end of the first 
week of May.  

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said showers or thundershowers  experienced in several places last morning was due to the turbulent nature of the lower sea area off the east coast of the country and the current weather will persist until April 14.