Inclement weather wreaks havoc in Batticaloa

• More than 170,531 people in 50,461 families displaced 

By Yohan Perera, Jaufer Khan, 
Wasantha Chandrapala and Saman Palitha  

Inclement weather wreaked havoc across several districts in  the country, causing significant disruptions to the G.C.E. Advanced  Level examination in some areas. Despite assurances from the Department  of Meteorology that showery conditions would ease, Batticaloa and  Badulla Districts bore the brunt of the adverse weather conditions,  leaving more than 170,531 people in 50,461 families displaced in  Batticaloa alone.  

The Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre in  Batticaloa reported that those affected were provided shelter and  urgent relief, including cooked meals, at various welfare centres.  Transportation in several areas came to a standstill, compounding the  challenges faced by the affected communities.  

In Batticaloa District, the largest reservoir reached spill  level, leading to the opening of three spill gates. Batticaloa District  Secretary S. Muralidaran noted that several schools were submerged or  inaccessible due to flooding, prompting the closure of schools in the  Batticaloa Central Zone for two days. The South Eastern University also  remained closed.  

Simultaneously, the Badulla District experienced  disruptions, with a landslide at Uduwara obstructing the Colombo –  Badulla main highway. The Badulla District Deputy Director of Disaster  Management, E.M.L. Udyakumara, mentioned that the affected road segment  was not suitable for vehicular traffic due to carvings caused by the  landslide. Candidates appearing for the examination in Bandarawela were  relocated to a special centre in Badulla Madya Maha Vidyalaya.  

Although floods in Anuradhapura and Ampara Districts had  subsided, some reservoirs were still at spill level. Water levels in  Senanayake Samudra and Inginiyagala reservoirs reached spill level,  signalling potential challenges in these areas. The aftermath of the  inclement weather has not only impacted daily life but also disrupted  vital educational and transportation activities across multiple  districts.