Heavy Showers Continue Across the Island, Landslide Warnings Remain In Effect For 10 Disctricts

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Department of Irrigation says that the water level of the Kalu Ganga is rising in the Ratnapura and Millakanda areas due to the prevailing heavy rainfall.

Authorities have advised residents living along both banks of the Kalu Ganga to remain vigilent to possible flooding.

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) announced that the landslide warnings issued for several Divisional Secretariat divisions across 10 districts remain in effect.

Senior Geologist of the NBRO, W.A. Senadheera, stated that landslide warnings are currently active in several areas of the Galle, Kandy, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Colombo, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, and Nuwara Eliya districts.

In the meantime, the Department of Meteorology forecasts intermittent showers or thundershowers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western, Northern, and North-Central provinces, as well as in the Galle, Matara, and Trincomalee districts.

According to the Department, some areas may receive rainfall exceeding 75 millimeters.

Strong winds, speeding between 40 - 50 km/h, can also be expected at times in the western slopes of the central hills, and in the Western, Northern, North-Central, North-Western, and Southern provinces, as well as in the Trincomalee District.

The Department further reports that a low-pressure area currently located over the southeastern Bay of Bengal is continuing to intensify and is moving northwestwards toward Sri Lanka.

It is expected to develop into a depression over the southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal today, strengthen into a deep depression by tomorrow, and possibly develop into a cyclonic storm by the following day.

Fishermen and naval communities are advised to exercise caution when engaging in activities in the shallow sea areas off Kankasanthurai to Trincomalee via Mullaitivu, and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota, due to adverse sea conditions.

Meanwhile, the highest rainfall recorded during the 24 hours ending at 6:00 a.m. today was 106 millimeters in Neboda, Kalutara.

According to the Met Department, Bandaragama recorded 85 millimeters of rain, while Molkawa, recorded 70 millimeters.