Next 24 hours critical
By Rathindra Kuruwita and Ifham Nizam
Current depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal, 160 km to the east-northeast of Trincomalee, was expected to reach the eastern coast of Sri Lanka and cross the country during the next 24 hours, the Met Department said yesterday issuing a severe weather warning.
The alert issued by the Met Department’s Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre said that showers would occur at times over most parts of the country and in some places heavy showers above 150 mm could be expected in addition to strong gusty winds of about 40-50 kmph over the country. That was caused by a depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal, which is moving across the country, the Department said.
Two perons, aged 15 and 18, died yesterday morning due to an earth slip, which destroyed their house.They were residents of Dunuwila North, Alawathugoda and the accident took place around 6.30 am.The victims were brother and sister. Their parents and another person were rushed to hospital.
The Department of Irrigation said that the water levels of many reservoirs had risen due to heavy rains. It has warned those who live in low-lying areas near rivers to remain vigilant.
The Department of Railways says train services in central Sri Lanka have been disrupted due to minor rock and earth slips and several trains have been cancelled.The National Building Research Organization said that four districts in the country were facing the risk of landslides and urged the people to be vigilant.
The Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa and Giant’s Tank in Mannar were brimful due to heavy rains, Irrigation Department officials said.Six spill gates of the Deduru Oya reservoir were opened and a minor flood situation was expected by Sunday evening in low-lying areas of the Deduru Oya basin.
Showers or thunder showers will occur at times over Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, North-Western and Northern provinces. Heavy showers above 100mm can be expected at some places in the above areas today (Monday), the Met Department has said.
Therefore, naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the deep and shallow sea areas around the island and to the Southwest Bay of Bengal (06N – 14N, 78E – 85E), until further notice.Fishing and naval communities have been asked to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology.
Winds will be northerly to north-westerly and wind speed will be 30-40 kmph. Wind speed may increase up to 55-65 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Colombo, Puttalam, Mannar, Kankesanthurai, Trincomalee and Batticaloa and it will increase up to 50kmph at times in the other sea areas around the country.The sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Colombo, Puttalam, Mannar, Kankesanthurai, Trincomalee and Batticaloa will be rough. The other sea areas around the Island may be rough at times.
