Sri Lanka facing complicated weather conditions?

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, May 27 (Daily Mirror) - A number of phenomena have led to the current rainy weather conditions with enhanced Southwest monsoon conditions making the greatest contribution, a spokesman from the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

Malith Fernando, a climatologist attached to Department of Meteorology told Daily Mirror that enhancement of the Southwest Monsoon is the main reason for the rainy weather conditions.

“There is a low pressure condition as well in the vicinity of Sri Lanka but that is only having an indirect effect on the wind flow. However, we don’t expect this condition to create a big impact,” he said.

Asked as to why areas such as Colombo are experiencing sudden bouts of rains which lash out and ceases within a short spell of time, he said it is caused by sudden changes of wind flow.

Mr. Fernando said the present weather conditions are expected to ease after May 31.

Meanwhile, the Met. Department forecast high waves with a height that could range from 2.5m to 3m in sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota. “There is a possibility that near shore sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota may experience surges due to swell waves," the Department forecast said.

Naval and fishing communities were advised by the Meteorology Department not to venture into the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankesanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota, until further notice.

The inclement weather currently experienced in the western slopes of the Central hills has caused havoc causing a disastrous situation and obstructing civilian life.

Gale force winds and heavy rain resulted in falling of trees and collapsing mounds of earth obstructing traffic on several main highways. Several huge trees have fallen across the Hatton–Colombo main highway near the Shannon Estate in Hatton during the early hours of this morning, obstructing traffic on the highway and causing inconvenience to the large crowds travelling to Colombo.

Hatton Police have taken steps to operate traffic on a single lane after some of the trees were cut and removed.

In a similar incident, the Hatton–Bogawanthalawa road has been obstructed by fallen trees. Telecommunication and street lamp posts have also been damaged. A huge mango tree has fallen on the line houses in the Wanarajah Estate in Hatton causing extensive damage to three houses. Steps has been taken to provide shelter to the displaced families in safer locations.

Meanwhile, gale force winds and fallen trees have caused damage to the main power transmission lines in Hatton, Norwood, Kotagala and Norton. A senior official of Hatton Consumer Services Centre said step are being taken to restore the power supply.

A tree has fallen on a church at Wewathenna in Bandarawela causing extensive damage to the building. However. No injuries have been reported.