Adverse weather prevents resettling of families displaced by Ditwah - DMC

• Low pressure system is gradually moving away from the island 
• Landslide warnings have been issued in Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Moneragala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts  

By Yohan Perera   

The current adverse whether conditions have further delayed resettlement of 1,337 people belonging to 465 families who were displaced by Cyclone Ditwah, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday.   

Some 369 families in Badulla, 18 in Colombo, 43 in Kegalle and 35 in Nuwara Eliya are still in temporary shelters according to data put out by the DMC.   

Roads in Riverstone area damaged by Cyclone Ditwah are now open only for light vehicles.   

Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation said some 17 major tanks and reservoirs were spilling. These were Nuwara Wewa, Mahawilichchiya in Anuradhapura, Ambewela tank in Badulla, Lunugamwehera, Weerawila, Yoda Wewa in Tissamaharama, Ambakola Wewa, Usgala Siyambalagamuwa, Mediyawewa, Magalla and Deduru Oya in Kurunegala, Nalanda, Wemeddilla,Debahuwa in Dambulla, Handapanagala, Alikota Ara in Moneragala and Tabbowa in Puttalam.   

Director Irrigation H. M.P.S. D. Hearth however said the amount of water released from the tanks and reservoirs have been reduced as of yesterday.   

Landslide warnings have been issued in Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Moneragala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts.   

The Department of Meteorology said the low pressure system is gradually moving away from the island and forecasted rains in the sea areas around the island during the coming days.