Heavy showers to ease, but storm aftermath looms across Sri Lanka

Landslide warnings have been issued for Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts  

The Bay of Bengal low-pressure area has stirred rough seas northeast of the island, prompting strong wind gusts of 50–60 kmph. Fishermen and naval personnel are being warned to exercise extreme caution, as marine activity remains hazardous 

By Yohan Perera and Chathuranga Pradeep Samarawickrama 

Lower atmospheric disturbance that is currently prevailing has caused a minor flood situation in Manampitiya and in Kandy district, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday.   

“Some roads in Peradeniya have been closed while Peradeniya town in the Kandy District was underwater. The Kandy Gurutalawa Road was closed due to earth slips,” DMC Director Pradeep Kodippili told media.    Landslide warnings have been issued for Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts by the Nation Building Research Organisation (NBRO) . Some 50 families from the three districts have been evacuated and are kept in safe locations.   

Rainfall more than 100mm was reported from few areas with Peradeniya receiving a rainfall of 213.2mm, Deraniyagala 163.2mm, Kithulgala 112.9mm, Ratnapura 84.9 mm and Wellawaya 73.7mm as of last afternoon.  

The Department of Meteorology forecasted rains exceeding 100mm in the Central, Uva,Sabaragamuwa and Eastern provinces and Galle and Matara districts.

Misty conditions will linger across the Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and in Ampara and Hambantota during the early morning hours. Authorities caution the public to brace for localized strong winds and lightning strikes, urging residents to remain vigilant.   

The situation is compounded by major reservoirs nearing critical levels. The Irrigation Department reported that the country’s 73 major reservoirs are now at 80% of total capacity, with Anuradhapura at 97%, Batticaloa at 99.6%, and Kandy at 95.4%. While authorities have opened spill gates in some locations, residents downstream are warned to prepare for potential flooding. Critics question whether the government has done enough to protect vulnerable communities, highlighting gaps in early-warning communication and flood management.   

Meanwhile, the Bay of Bengal low-pressure area has stirred rough seas northeast of the island, prompting strong wind gusts of 50–60 kmph. Fishermen and naval personnel are being warned to exercise extreme caution, as marine activity remains hazardous.   

Peradeniya recorded a staggering 213.2 mm of rain over Saturday (21), the highest in the country, while Deraniyagala and Kithulgala reported 163.2 mm and 112.9 mm, respectively. Rising river levels across the Mahaweli and Kelani basins have authorities on high alert, particularly in low-lying flood-prone zones  

Additional reports by Sudath H. M. Hewajulige and Nimal Jayaratne