More rains likely due to atmospheric disturbance

The atmospheric disturbance in the Bay of Bengal to the south-west of Sri Lanka has moved over the Arabian Sea but is likely to move away from the country while developing further, the Meteorology Department said today.

It said the prevailing rains particularly in the Eastern, Uva and Southern provinces and in the Puttalam District were likely to continue as a result of the disturbance with rains exceeding 150 mm.

“The possibility of rough seas extending from Trincomalee to Puttalam via Hambanthota and Galle is still high. Therefore the fishing and naval communities are requested to be vigilant,” the Met Department said.

Showers or thundershowers are also expected at times in the Southern, Uva, Eastern, Northern, North-central Provinces and in the Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kalutara and Matale Districts with wind speeds expected to increase up to 60 kmph over the island.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said several roads were underwater as a result of the rains which had exceeded 100 mm. The Mannar-Eluwankulam Road, the Ella-Badulla Road, the Chenkaladi-Peradeniya Road, the Tangalle-Tissa Road, the Hakmana-Mulatiyana Road, the Tangalle-Weeraketiya Road and the Nanu Oya Railway line were reportedly inundated as a result of the rains.

Wheragala in the Hambantota District had a rainfall of 220 mm, while Makndura in the Matara District had a rainfall of 210 mm while Galle had a rainfall of more than 100 mm as of today afternoon.

The Sluice gates of the Deduru Oya, Rajangane, Angamuwa and Pollgolla reservoirs were opened while the gates of the Lakshapana and Canyon which were opened earlier has been closed. (Yohan Perera)