Sri Lanka hit by atmospheric disturbance: Bad weather likely to affect election campaigning during the first week

• The rallies of incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Anuradhapura and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Akuressa in Matara were held amidst heavy showers on Sunday
• Showers exceeding 100mm were recorded from few parts of the country as of yesterday. The highest rainfall of 148.5mm was recorded from Algama in the Kegalle District

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

The first week of campaigning of the Presidential Election is likely to be affected by adverse weather conditions as heavy showers are expected during the coming days due to atmospheric disturbances developing in the vicinity of Sri Lanka.

The Department of Meteorology said the atmospheric disturbance is expected to bring rains exceeding 150mm during the coming days especially in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Disticts during the coming days. Rainy conditions will prevail until August 21 according to the department.    

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere over the island during the evening or night, the Department said.  

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph at times were forecast in the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-Central and North-Western Provinces.   

The rallies of incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Anuradhapura and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Akuressa in Matara were held amidst heavy showers on Sunday.   

meanwhile a minor flood situation was reported from Millakanda in Kalutara and in Doonamale in Gampaha district due to rise of water levels in the Kalu Ganga during the weekend. Some 27642 people belonging to 8717 families in the Puttalam and Kalutara Districts were affected by the floods according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).   

Showers exceeding 100mm were recorded from few parts of the country as of yesterday. The highest rainfall of 148.5mm was recorded from Algama in the Kegalle district, 101mm from Millakanda in Kalutara, 91mm from Kithulgala, 96mm from Badalgama, and 67mm from Deraniyagala.