Cyclone BUREVI makes landfall in NE coast last night Government braces for flash floods, wind damage

• Crops like rice, papaya and plantain are at risk of damage from gale force winds 
• Schools closed in North and East

By Yohan Perera

The Cyclone ‘BUREVI’ made landfall between Mullaitivu and Trincomalee around 9.00pm yesterday bringing in its wake heavy rainfall up to 200 mm and 60 to 70 kmph  gusts of winds over the Northern part of the island, the Met Department said. 

 
The Disaster Management Centre warned of severe flooding. Uprooting of trees, Breakdown of power lines with possible damages being caused to property and those living in temporary shelters .   

Schools in the North East and Puttalam District were closed while fisherman were asked to keep away from sea. Relevant institutions including the Disaster Management Centre, National Building Research Organisation, Department of Irrigation and Department of Meteorology will work in coordination to minimize the effects of the storm.   

In addition other institutions responsible for providing infrastructure facilities including the CEB have also been kept on alert. This is in line with the plan to restore infrastructure facilities which could breakdown within 24 hours.   
Accordingly electricity if disrupted will be restored within 24 hours” the statement added. In addition the Police the Security forces and Air Force are on alert to carry out evacuations and rescue operations when the need arises. 

All precautions in place to face cyclone: Chamal

• We have already discussed one billion rupees to each Divisional Secretariat
• This amount will be utilised to pay compensation to those who will be affected

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

A well-devised plan was underway to minimise the damages which cyclone Burevi, which is heading towards Sri Lanka could cause, Minister of Irrigation and State Minister of Home Affairs and Disaster Management Chamal Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday. 

Minister Rajapaksa said plans were already underway to minimise the effects of floods. 

“Plans are underway to evaluate those in the vulnerable areas to safety,” he said. 

“We have already discussed one billion rupees to each Divisional Secretariat. This amount will be utilised to pay compensation to those who will be affected. Besides arrangements are also made to distribute relief to those who would be affected” he said. 

The Disaster Management Centre, security forces, police, officers of Disaster Management Centre are kept on red alert to face an emergency. Rescue workers and other officers who have been assigned the task of evaluating the affected are kept on alert,” he added.