CMC declares emergency amid conflicting weather reports

CMC says it went on emergency alert after Met Department issues warnings

75mm of rain expected

Met. Dept. says only possible thunderstorms and lightning expected 

By Yohan Perera

Confusion reigned with regard to the weather,  with Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) declaring an emergency disaster response period while the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Department of Meteorology stated that they had not issued any special warnings.

A notice from the CMC said it has declared an emergency disaster response period from yesterday until Saturday, October 18, 2025.

“CMC is on full standby to assist the city dwellers in any emergency,” the notice added.

A spokesman from CMC said the council has decided to declare an emergency response period after the DMC and the Department of Meteorology issued warnings. 

Climatologist of the Department of Meteorology, Malith Fernando when contacted by Daily Mirror that no special warnings have been issued to date. “There is no special situation, such as a cyclone or very heavy rains, though there could be some thunderstorms in the coming days. There is also lightning during the coming days. There is no major situation other than that,” he said.

DMC Director Pradeep Kodipilli said there is no danger of a major disaster within the coming days. “There were some minor floods in Balapitiya, and minor earth slips in Beruwala and in Saranankara Mawatha, Dehiwala, with a few houses damaged. However, the weather is likely to improve in the coming days. Therefore, we have not issued any special warnings,” he said.