Inclement weather conditions to prevail but expected to improve

Amidst the flood situation in the Gampaha area, a group of individuals are seen carrying an elderly woman to a hospital due to a medical emergency. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

• Over 129,000 people displaced by yesterday evening   

By Yohan Perera and Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya Additional reports, Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe and Thusitha de Silva

The inclement weather conditions will prevail for few more days but is expected to reduce gradually during the days to come, Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

 An atmospheric disturbance development over Sri Lanka, coming under inter tropical convergence zone and inter monsoon conditions have brought on high intensity rains in some parts of the nation according to Director General Meteorological Department Athula Karunanayake.   

The department forecasted 100mm of rain during the coming days.   

Flash floods brought on by rains coming down in torrents has resulted in the disruption of transport in Puttalam and Gampaha while three deaths were reported.   
Train services to Puttalam were disrupted while passenger transportation in Gampaha also became impossible as the central bus stand in the town went under water. Floods were reported from Ekala Ja-Ela, where many roads were under water.   

Many areas in Gampaha also went under water according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).   

DMC said more than 129,000 people in Gampaha, Kalutara, Colombo, Kilinochchi, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Hambantota, Galle, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Kurunegala and Puttalam were affected by inclement weather conditions by yesterday evening. Some 234 houses have been partly damaged.   

Three deaths were reported from Gampaha, Kaduwela and Kalutara.   

Zonal education directors have been given authority to close schools in affected areas if needed. Accordingly schools in Kaduwela, Kolonnawa and Wattala education zones were closed.   
Landslide warnings were issued for Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts.   

Rainy conditions which caused by complicated weather conditions are expected to be less by today according to Department of Meteorology. However Rains exceeding 100 mm were recorded from Ingiriya in Kalutara, Gampaha and Colombo Districts. Rains are expected in Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and Southern provinces during the coming days.   
Meanwhile Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has mobilised aircraft and troops in anticipation of potential emergencies due to the current adverse weather conditions.  

SLAF spokesman Eranda Geeganage said that Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa has instructed the Air force to be on stand by to commence relief and rescue operations when needed.  

He instructed the SLAF to monitor disaster situations from the air and ensure that surveillance aircraft are kept on standby. Also, a Bell-412 helicopter is stationed at the Ratmalana Air Force Base, while two Bell-212 helicopters are located at the Hingurakgoda and Palali Air Force bases for rapid responses.