Reservoirs near spill levels as heavy rains lash central hills

By Yohan Perera, Chaturanga Samarawickrama and Ranjith Rajapakse   

Inclement weather has disrupted schools in Bogawantalawa, with one school getting inundated. 

The access road to Bogawantalawa St. Mary’s College is underwater, disrupting the school’s academic activities. Meanwhile, the Maussakele, Castlereagh, and Kotmale hydro power reservoirs are fast reaching the spill level, while waterfalls in the upcountry have swelled. Additionally, water levels of the Kalu Ganga, Gin Ganga, and Attanagalu Oya are rising, according to the Disaster Management Center (DMC). 

The Department of Irrigation has warned that more sluice gates will need to be opened at various dams and reservoirs if the rains continue. 

Eng. S.P.C. Sugeeshwara Bandara, the Irrigation Department’s Irrigation (Hydrology) Director, stated that 80 per cent of water capacity is currently available in all irrigation reservoirs, which is considerably higher capacity. 

‘The Deduru Oya in the Kurunegala District and the Tabbowa Wewa in the Puttalam district are currently spilling. Four sluice gates of the Deduru Oya have been opened, releasing water at a rate of 2,800 cubic meters per second. Additionally, two gates of the Tabbowa Wewa have been opened, releasing 800 cubic meters of water per second,’ he said.