Severe impact on many areas of the island due to the activation of the Southwest monsoon

Due to the gradual establishment of the Southwest Monsoon condition across the island, heavy rainfall has affected the southwestern parts of the island. According to the latest weather data and announcements issued by relevant state institutions, a high risk of disaster situations has emerged in several areas.

Forecast by the Department of Meteorology

The Department of Meteorology has announced that very heavy rainfall exceeding 200 mm is expected in some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North Western provinces, as well as in the Galle district. Rainfall exceeding 100 mm is also expected for the Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya districts. Additionally, the naval and fishing communities have been warned that wind speeds in the northern, southern, and eastern sea areas could increase to 50-60 km per hour, and the Bay of Bengal sea area could be moderately rough. 

Flood risks for several river basins

Due to the ongoing heavy rainfall, the Department of Irrigation has issued minor flood warnings for the Kelani, Kalu, and Attanagalu Oya river basins for the next 24 hours. As nearly 300 mm of rain has been received in the upper catchment areas of the Kelani River, residents in Ruwanwella, Seethawaka, Dompe, Dehiowita, Eheliyagoda, Yatiyantota, and Bulathkohupitiya areas should remain vigilant. If rainfall continues, a flood situation could also develop in the lower Kelani River valley from the Hanwella area downwards.

Concurrently, the overflowing of the Kalu River has affected the areas of Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Elapatha, Ayagama, and Kiriella, while the overflowing of Attanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya has affected the Divisional Secretariat divisions of Divulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalla, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-Ela, Katana, and Wattala with this flood risk. 

Landslide Pre-warnings

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide pre-warnings for 03 districts. Accordingly, Level 2 landslide risk warnings are active for Attanagalla in Gampaha District, as well as Ratnapura and Kuruwita areas in Ratnapura District. Level 1 warnings have been issued for Bulathsinhala in Kalutara District and Eheliyagoda in Ratnapura District. The organization states that the Disaster Management Centre can be contacted via the emergency hotline 117 for information regarding these risk situations. 

Disruptions to Air and Rail Traffic

Due to adverse weather conditions, operations at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake were severely disrupted early this morning. Authorities have taken steps to divert 09 aircraft that were scheduled to land at Katunayake to Mattala Airport and to Cochin and Trivandrum airports in India. Among the 06 aircraft diverted to Mattala were 02 flights from Doha, Qatar, 02 Air Arabia flights from Sharjah, an Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi, and a Jazeera Airways flight from Kuwait.

Meanwhile, train services have also been disrupted due to trees falling onto railway tracks. Delays are reported on the Kelani Valley line between Kosgama and Avissawella, and on the Puttalam line between Madampe and Halawatha, due to fallen trees. The railway control room states that efforts to restore the tracks are already underway.