Disaster Disrupts Highways and Expressways Around Colombo

 The impact of the prevailing adverse weather conditions across the island has severely affected several areas in and around Colombo, with the Police Media Division reporting road inundations and fallen trees due to heavy rainfall.

Due to these disruptions causing obstacles to vehicular traffic, the police urge drivers to use alternative routes as much as possible. Specifically, traffic has been obstructed near the Lionel Wendt Theatre on Premasiri Khemadasa Mawatha and on Keppetipola Mawatha near the 4th gate of the National Hospital. Additionally, road obstructions are present at the Queen's Road junction on Elvitigala Mawatha and near the temple at the Armour Barber Junction in Kotahena, and the police advise the public to exercise caution when using these roads.

Meanwhile, traffic on the Southern Expressway has also been disrupted by the rain,

and the Kaduwela exit point being submerged has affected traffic management. The Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development advises the public, especially vehicles coming from the Kadawatha direction, to use alternative routes due to this situation.

Furthermore, the Road Development Authority reports that a crack has been observed in a side embankment near the 12.5 km post belonging to the Baddegoda area, in the section of the Southern Expressway between Gelanigama and Kahathuduwa. The embankment located alongside the lane heading towards Colombo has cracked, raising a risk of landslides. Authorities have taken precautionary measures by temporarily closing the left lane for approximately 300 meters. To prevent further damage amidst the adverse weather, the affected section has been covered with polythene sheets, and it is reported that engineers and technical officers are closely monitoring this area as well as other embankments along the expressway.