Flood threat looms again

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

With heavy rain lashing certain parts of the country,the flood threat looms again in the lower reaches of the Mahaweli River in the eastern province .   

The Department of Irigation issued flood warnings for certain areas in the Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts .   

The divisional secretariat areas with the flood threat are Muttur, Kinniya, Kantale, Seruwila, Welikanda, Lankapura, Thamankaduwa and Dimbulagala .  

  

Torrential rains have begun battering the Central province forcing authorities to close schools in the area until next week.   

The central province once again has begun experiencing torrential rains with some areas receiving rainfall of over 300mm forcing authorities to close schools in the province,   

Ududumbara in the Kandy District received a rainfall of 308mm while Poppitiya received a fall of 234mm, Kaikawala 2218mm, and Nugatenna in Kandy District recorded a fall of 221mm of rain. Meda MahaNuwara had received rain fall of 162mm according to Disaster Management Centre (DMC) report last evening.   

Authorities decided to close all schools in the Central province today December 19 and on Monday 22 2025 due to prevailing inclement weather conditions. The decision was made last evening after considering the weather situation. Earlier it was decided to allow the principals to decide on closing schools.   

National Building Research Organization (NBRO) issued landslide warnings in Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts. People in the Medadumbara, Doluwa and Udu Dumbara areas in the Kandy district were asked to evacuate.