Flights delayed due to floods

18 May 2010 08:58 am - 53 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Indika Sri Aravinda and Sumaiya Rizvi

All international flights scheduled to depart the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have been delayed as the Colombo-Katunayaka road has been flooded preventing passengers from reaching the airport on time, the Airport Duty Manager told Daily Mirror online.

Earlier, the Airport issued a notice to all passengers to report to the Airport atleast four hours prior due to traffic due to the heavy rains.

The Ratmalana Airport has also suspended domestic flights owing to the bad weather conditions.

Meanwhile the Director General of the Department of Meteorology G.B. Samarasingha told Daily Mirror online that the current weather conditions will continue for another few days while the monsoon season will also take effect from the end of this week and continue till September.

He warned that as a result there was a threat of lightening, landslides and strong winds and urged the public, including fishermen to take precautionary measures.

Meanwhile Disaster Management Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said that two people had been killed and over 100,000 left homeless due to the heavy downpour in the past few days.

The Minister also criticised the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) for failing to clear the drains and culverts in Colombo city so that rain waters could recede. "It seems like we have to do their job for them," Minister Fowzie said. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 53

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 12:24 AM

Hope this government will understand the situation and put a good plan into effect.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 11:21 AM

Im not happy that we are suffering. In fact our houses also are affected by the floods. Its only today that i got to work. But I understand the fact that we cannot blame everything on the government. The way it rained the last couple of days, its inevitable that the rivers will flood over. These kinds of things happen all over the world. But development should not be stopped. Because later on, you will complain that there is no development. You will complain that there is no electricity or the villages are still poor.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 01:18 PM

Hon Fowzie is absolutely correct saying that CMC has not cleaned the drains. CMC Engineers must be sent home or suspended. There are gullies and storm water system which have not been cleaned up for last thirty years.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 01:19 PM

We are compelled to make it a political isse wether it is MR's governmenr, RW, CBK or for that matter the JVP all of them are to blame. This is not the first time we have witnessed this and it wont be the last either. They need to have a national policy and a preventive maintenance plan which is carried out monthly.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 01:54 PM

The difference in the uk is that it takes an overflown river and a below sea level city to flood. Here it only takes two hard showers

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 01:55 PM

Stupid people cant understand it

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 02:04 PM

It does not hv to be 5-7 feet at the rail track. It is 5-7 feet high when u come to the rail track.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 02:27 PM

they have to organize and repair all the culvets...

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 02:51 PM

Why don't you all say British instead of the racist term Sudda? I don't know what the British did or did not do in this respect, but I know calling a light-skinned Anglo-Saxon a Sudda is offensive. I have been called that many times and I don't like it!

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 02:55 PM

I believe that garbage, trash, leaves, etc. swept into the open drains by the people whose homes and shops face those drains is part of the problem

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 02:59 PM

This flooding issue in Colombo & suburbs has been getting worse year by year. Why is that? Is it due to poorly planned development work being carried out, whereby certain factors have been neglected? Never before heard of the Colombo-Kautnayake Road being flooded that badly, so as to disrupt traffic.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 03:44 PM

Is this how we are going to become an aviation hub of Asia? We'd better get our basics right first!

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 04:34 PM

What happened to the proactive teams that removed the pavement hawkers, an event much publicised and praised as if we had made a moon landing? But how about cleaning up the drains? Or making sure the sick and dying have adequate medicines in the hospitals?

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 08:57 PM

"...Permanent solution to flooding problem.." - Yeah, great suggestion! If we can develop an idea or some formulae to achieve this, we can sell it to many countries in the world and make a good fortune! You know, severe flooding is taking place even in countries like America!

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 11:14 AM

Nature against the war victory

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 01:39 AM

Hey Guys, I understand that the weather is to be blamed for mainly. But, I am from Kotahena, and for the past 4 days, people had been left out of their homes over here and I didnt see the municipality or any ministers or authorities in action at-least in a human sense.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 02:29 AM

Had the CMB/Katunayake Road been built properly during CBKS regime and the tender awarded to the Company which had the best expertise
we would not have had to encounter this problem.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 03:26 AM

No use of building new roads & highways if they are going to be flooded out at the slightest shower of rains. Use that money to maintain the present roads properly. Also all govt authorities should coordinate and see that the city is kept clean always (not only to bluff the Indian bollywood stars) to prevent the clogged water outlets. This will prevent a lot of diseases like dengue, viral fever, rat fever etc. and save the govt a lot of money on account of treatment for these diseases.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 03:50 AM

well said...i know a few people who see through coloured glasses, who even critisize the nugegoda and dehiwala "fly over" constructions.. had it been constructed by the party they love so much they would be licking those bridges by now...typical sri lankan hypocrisy driven by hardcore political party affliations.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 03:54 AM

Those suddhas didnt build them..they only commanded the work by force..natives of this country built them..It was compulsory to work in the railtrack laying under the british..and whoever wished to avoid that had to pay a TAX and avoid work on the tracks..learn your history first

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 04:38 AM

Malkanthi!!

What a silly statement ...This is a natural failure beyond no one's control. it seems like you have never been to other countries in the world and even in Europe you will find flooding when its heavy raining....Its not a matter of the development process...stop party politics and lets talk to the point

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 05:49 AM

In Ragama area rail tracks get flooded due to recent developments by our people. There are no proper drain system in those areas. But according to the Britishes, they have done that in a correct level according to geogrphical scenarion in old days.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 06:19 AM

I am really sorry and I do apologise.

I never intended a racist meaning and never thought it ever would. I appreciate the good work done by the British.Perhaps we use the term as a nickname never intending harm.

Nevertheless I will not use it again and shall thank you for enlightning me.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 06:26 AM

chris, what you should take into account is the areas that has never flooded before is facing same situ! this is an unusual calamity in sri lanka, anyhow such will continue as long as we refuse to understand the truth, and apple polishing!

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 06:40 AM

Can't we put the blame on West for bringing floods to our country. Where is Wimal? Please ask him to go to British High Commission and organise a protest rally?

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 07:01 AM

well said MK.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 08:50 AM

Malkanthi!! This is not an unusual calamity but you are trying to pretend it like that , we have come across such situ many times in Sri Lanka. Most of the areas flooded usually being flooded with heavy rain. Pl check the past records if Im mistaken….

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:22 AM

Sanjeewa, these tracks situated in upcountry. Water doesn't hang around one place. Non of them are not build above at least 3-4 feets high exept any special issue.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:26 AM

Is this the way Mr MR going to make Sri Lanka Asias whatever ? (Can't remember)

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:31 AM

Stop dumping money to road development , additional airports, ceremonies but find a permanent solution to flooding problem which is long overdue!

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:32 AM

Colombo could only be reached by train yesterday, because the Sudda (English) built the rail tracks 5-7 feet above the average soil level more than 120 years ago.

To say that you cannot reach main airport due to 1-3 feet water above the main road , is a shame in 2010.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:39 AM

Where is this 5-7 (which is over normal human height) feet high rail track ???

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:40 AM

Its always a question of blaming someone else. Why did the Minister, whoever it might be, wait until a flood situation to realize the drains and culverts are not cleared?

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:50 AM

War, you have not understood Sanjeeva's comment. Read it again.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:51 AM

"The Next Asian Miracle"

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:52 AM

The Kany-Colomb, Kandy-Matale tracks and Badulla.

When the whole Ragama was flodded the trains continue to run on higher tracks either side of which were flooded.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:53 AM

What is there to understand ? He clearly mention Sudda build rail tracks 5-7 feet above the mean soil level.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:02 AM

What is the cause of flooding in Colombo and Gampaha Districts? Is it not because of the haphazard filling of the marshlands that was natures way of controlling flood waters?
We need Ministers and officials who can properly do the planning without allowing henchmen to fill up marshlands and constructing buildings.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:03 AM

One needs to be in train only between Veyangoda and Ragama to undersstand this.

The Kandy - Matale track is in an average of 9.7 ft above the surrounding lands.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:17 AM

Ok So, we stop all the development work and start making only the drains in the country? Thats a silly statement. We need to work on the all projects simultaneously. Anyways, you guys can never be made happy. Now you will complain of the floods. Next moment you will complain of the roads.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:07 AM

if this happened before parliament election defenetely all candidates could be in the street despite rain and would serve people without any hardships

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:28 AM

Guys, Let's blame Ranil / Premadasa / JR ..........

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:29 AM

Dear Minister why are you blaming Colombo municipality for floods in Colombo? Can’t you remember that your own ruling government played with the administration of Colombo municipality and made a messy situation there? it was the best municipality in the country for many years today it has become a rotten egg. Please don’t blame any body now do the job that’s what for people elected all of you not to play football

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:30 AM

Sanjeewa - the yakko type fellows with weerawansa genes will never understand what you are saying. We will have to hope that new generations born to mother lanka will not be the same.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:32 AM

Agree

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:35 AM

Ask CBK why she delayed the highway to Katunayaka air port.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:45 AM

Also SWRD and Dudley

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:46 AM

what is the point of a big show building and decorating outside when inside is all muck?? May be you are a good Swimmer waiting to see everything submerging!!

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 10:52 AM

dig more roadside drains & do not use the roadsides as garbage dumpings. Garbage is the main reason for this flooding.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 11:01 AM

Can you be happy when thousands are suffering...........
God bless this little island!!!

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 11:06 AM

How can you say its a big show, when thousands of people will get electricity from the Norochcholai plant, when the south gets developed by the H'Tota port, and when the north and east is going to get developed by better road infrastructure where people can take their products to the market.? The floods in here are mainly due to over-flooding of rivers. Even in the UK it floods when the river banks overflow. Your comments seems very witty and smart, but when you think of it, not smart at all

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 11:08 AM

We forget everything after 2 weeks. I think Ranil is responsible for people having short memories.

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 11:10 AM

Guys, the weather is changing around the world and yes, many places, expecially the richer middle eastern states have draining issues... let's not make weather a political issue now..

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Flights delayed due to floods

Comments - 53

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