Hot weather in 11 districts

The Department of Meteorology today issued hot weather advisories to 11 districts including the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western and Southern Provinces and the Moneragala District warning people to be extremely cautious.

It asked people to take plenty of fluids, take breaks and remain in the shade as often as possible and advised those caring for the elderly and the sick who are indoors to take extra precautions and not leave children unattended.

The advisory identified Puttalam, Kurunegala, Gampaha, Kegalle, Colombo, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Monaragala as regions where people need to remain extremely cautious during the hot weather.

Meanwhile, Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Ampara mentioned remaining caution during the hot weather.

According to the heat index, the extreme caution level has recorded temperatures between 32 and 41 degrees centigrade. The department warned that those living in these areas should avoid venturing outside too much in the next few days, particularly in the morning hours as heat strokes, cramps and heat exhaustion were some of the after-effects that could occur if precautions were not taken. The Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Matale, Batticaloa, Ampara, Galle and Matara districts recorded temperatures between 27 and 32 degrees centigrade.

The department advised the public to remain hydrated and take rests without being out in the open at their job sites. They also advised those caring for the elderly and the sick who are indoors to take extra precautions and not to leave children unattended.

While issuing a general weather forecast for next 36 hours the Meteorology Department today said showers and thundershowers may occur in Ratnapura in the Sabaragamuwa Province after 2.00 p.m. Mainly fair weather would prevail in Anuradhapura, Batticoloa, Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Trincomalee and Mannar

Misty conditions could be expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa Province and Nuwara-Eliya district in the morning, the Department added.

While issuing a situation report, the Disaster Management Centre today said 2,98,115 people from 74,792 families had been affected due to prevailing drought situation at four provinces in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Western and North Western.

People in Kegalle (12,814 people), Ratnapura (30,497 people), Kandy (1,213 people), Kalutara (2,15,525 people), Gampaha (6, 566) and Puttalam (31,425 people) affected with drought, but no deaths have been reported. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)