Expect deluge today with activation of South-Western monsoon

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Some parts of the country will receive rainfall exceeding 100 mm due to the activation of the South Western monsoon, the Met Department has said. Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as Galle and Matara districts will be the most affected.

Deputy Director Weather Forecasting and Disaster Management M. M. P Mendis said that rainy conditions would prevail until the end of the first week of October.The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), on Thursday, issued landslide warnings for several areas in seven districts.

They are Galle, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura districts.Dr. Wasantha Senadheera, senior scientist at NBRO said that others living near mountains should also be vigilant.

” You should be careful if you live near a mountain or use roads near mountains if there are heavy rains,” he said.

The Met Department said that the highest rainfall in the 24 hours that ended at 8 am yesterday, was reported from Maliboda, Kegalle (152 millimeters). Halwatura, Ratnapura and Matara received rains of 110, 84 and 108 millimeters.

Several areas in Matara are already facing minor floods, the Irrigation Department said.The water levels of the Gin and Kalu rivers and Attanagalu Oya are rapidly rising, the Department said.

Kotapola, Pitabeddara, Pasgoda, Akuressa, Aturaliya, Malimbada and Thihagoda areas can face floods as water levels in the Nil River go up. Palinda Nuwara and Bulathsinhala too are facing the threat of floods as the Kalu River catchment areas are receiving heavy rains, the Department said.