Public query….. Are unauthorised constructions obstructing free flow of storm water?

The pictures shows several areas being inundated due to the continuous rain and people’s lives being disrupted

More than 82,839 people in 20,553 families in 12 divisions in Gampaha district excluding Negombo division have been affected by the prevailing inclement weather.

Gampaha District Secretary Lalinda Gamage said that the low lying areas of Attanagalu Oya river, Uruwaloya river and Kundawila canal are overflowing and that several low lying areas in Gampaha and its environs are affected due to a flood threat. He had instructed the divisional secretaries to provide shelter in safer locations and urgent facilities for 446 families in the affected areas.

A senior official of the District Disaster Management Centre said the torrential rain experienced for several days had caused damage to 41 houses and eleven business establishments.

Meanwhile several civil society organisations and Chief Incumbent of Gampaha Sama Maha Vihara Ven. Thalangalle Somasiri had taken steps to provide cooked meals to the people in the affected areas.

A Disaster Management official said several roads in the district had been affected by floods causing obstructions to traffic. Gampaha- Jaela road, Gampaha- Ganemulla road and Gamkpana Oruthota road were the worst affected. 

The public was of opinion that unauthorised constructions had obstructed the free flow of storm water thereby creating a flood threat. He said that prominent individuals, receiving political patronage, were responsible for ill-planned construction works. 

They requested the government to remove the ill-planned constructions and to restore the storm water canals.

District Secretary Lalinda Gamage and Deputy Director, Disaster Management Centre Ajith Nishantha Chandrasiri visited the affected areas and provided relief to the people. 

Meanwhile several low-lying areas in the Kalutara district had gone under water disrupting civilian life. 

Beruwala, Maggona, Martugama, Horawala Payagala, Pelawatta, Walallawita and Meegahathenna were the worst affected by floods.

Divisional Secretaries in the respective areas had taken steps to provide urgent facilities to the affected families.