Heavy rains and landslides threaten many areas
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- Published on Tuesday, 10 July 2012 10:24
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The Meteorological Department informed that due to the activation of the South-western monsoon weather conditions strong winds will prevail in the sea around the country. It requests the fishing community to refrain from venturing for fishing activities.
The Department also informed that rain could be experienced in the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces and the Kurunegala district today. In some places there could be heavy rains amounting to about 100 millimeters. In the afternoon or in the evenings there could be thundershowers associated with strong winds in several areas of Eastern and Uva provinces.
The Department said that wind blowing from Southwestern areas will continue to prevail in the coastal areas. Heavy rains are being experienced in the Norton Bridge area since yesterday morning.
The District Secretary of Nuwara Eliya D.P.G. Kumarasiri said that sluice gates of Lakshapana, Canyon and Wimalasurendra reservoirs have been opened as the reservoirs are having spill levels. He said that 175 millimeters of rain were received during the last 24 hours in the reservoir areas.
The District Disaster Management Centre of Nuwara Eliya requests the people from Canyon to Polpitiya to be vigilant about the water levels of the reservoirs in the area. Heavy rains are also being received in Ampara, Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts.
The Ministry of Power and Energy informed that the water levels of Maussakele, Victoria and Kothmale have increased. The Ministry said that hydro power generation has now increased to 20 percent from the earlier 15 percent. Recently the Ministry was forced to generate more thermal power due to the drought. It has now been reduced to 79 percent from the earlier 85 percent.
Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organization said risks of landslides have increased in several areas of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle districts following heavy rains. Areas which are situated in the western slope of Kandy as well as Kothmale, Ambagamuwa and Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretariats of Nuwara Eliya district have increasingly come under this threat. It said that landslide risks have also increased in Aranayake, Ruwanwella, Bulathkohupitiya and Yatiyanthota areas of Kegalle district. (niz).
