271 houses damaged due to gusty winds

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

At least 271 houses were partially damaged by the gusty winds that blew across the areas like Ratnapura, Vavuniya, Kegalle, Puttalam, Hambantota and Nuwara Eliya yesterday, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said yesterday.   

He told Daily Mirror yesterday that steps would be taken to pay compensations after considering the estimated damage caused to each house.   

Issuing a Red Notice, the Department of Meteorology warned yesterday that there would be unexpected exceptionally strong winds in the Northern, North Central, North-western Provinces and in the Trincomalee and Matale Districts.   

The strong winds may go up to 70-80 kmph. However, in other places wind speeds were likely to reach up to 55-65 kmph, it warned.   

However, it said this phenomenon could be seen mainly in the afternoons.   

It said sea areas extending from Negombo to Batticaloa via Mannar, Kankesanthurai and Trincomalee would be very rough at times as wind speeds would increase up to 60-70 kmph at times.   

“Sudden increase of wind speeds up to 80 kmph is also possible over the above sea areas particularly in the afternoon and night,” it said.   

It requested naval and fishing communities to be vigilant in this regard.