Inclement weather leaves five dead, over 15,500 affected

The prevailing adverse weather conditions have so far claimed five lives countrywide leaving 15,568 people from 4,546 families affected, Disaster Management Center (DMC) said today.

DMC Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said the persons affected were from the Ratnapura, Kegalle, Puttalam, Monaragala, Batticaloa, Ampara, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Mannar, Matale, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura districts.

National Building Research Organisation said the landslide warnings issued to Ratnapura, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts would be valid for the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department said prevailing showery conditions was expected to enhance over Northern, Eastern, North-Central, Uva and Central provinces from tonight (particularly on Dec. 4th, and 5th). It said this situation is due to the low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka.

Showers or thundershowers will occur in Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva and Southern provinces and in the Kurunegala District. Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere after 1.00 p.m.

“Very heavy showers above 150 mm are likely at some places in Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Mullaitivu, Nuwara-Eliya, Badulla and Monaragala districts,” it said.

It further said heavy showers above 100 mm were likely at some places in North-Central, Sabaragamuva, Southern and Western provinces and in Matale, Kandy, Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya Districts.

Moreover, it said fairly strong gusty winds up to 55 kmph could be expected over the island particularly in North-Western, Southern, Central, Uva and North-Central provinces.

The Department requested the general public to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. (Sheain Fernandopulle)