Ongoing rainy weather makes Ditwah- triggered landslide active again

Colombo, May 12 (Daily Mirror) - A landslide triggered by the Ditwah cyclone last year has become active once again as a result of the ongoing rainy weather which has hit Watawala in the Badulla district, authorities said yesterday.

As a result roads in the area are blocked and traffic has come to a virtual standstill.

Pre-monsoonal rain has resulted in disruption and disaster in the central hills. The Diyagala stretch along the Hatton – Colombo Road experienced earth slips due to the heavy rains in the central hills.

Norwood Executive Engineer, Road Development Authority said steps would be taken to clear obstruction to traffic soon.

Meanwhile, the overflowing of the Kirindioya River in Wellawaya on Sunday evening created a minor flood in the low-lying areas where more than 30 houses had been submerged causing extensive damage to property.

Deputy Director, Monaragala District Disaster Management Centre, A.H.Ravindra Kumara said floods had affected Nugeyaya, Romiel Junction,and Thelulla areas in Wellawaya.

He said immediate steps were taken to provide relief to displaced families. Divisional Secretary, Ravindra Malini said crop devastation would be assessed and steps would be taken to pay compensation to affected families.

Similar flood situations had been experienced in the Galewela Division A senior official of the Divisional Secretariat said people in 14 Grama NIladhari areas have been affected by overflowing canals and tanks.

The official said Pattiwela and Lucywatte villagers in the Central Province were also affected by the flood. Divisional Secretary, E.MC.Ekanayaka said displaced families were provided temporary shelter in a Church in the area and that steps were being taken to estimate the damage caused to house and property.

The Bandarawela Town had also gone underwater yesterday as a result of the torrential downpour. Drains and culverts were blocked resulting in water overspill and roads in the area being flooded. Shops were also flooded as a result while school children heading to schools were stranded midway and unable to reach their destination..

Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation said spill gates of 16 major reservoirs including Rajangana reservoir in Anurdhapura , Ambewela Tank in Badulla, Sorabora Tank in Badulla , Lunugamwehera, Tissa Wewa Yoda Wewa, and Weheragala tanks in Tissamaharama Usgala Siyambalanduwa , Deduru Oyai in Kurunegala, Welmedilla and Nalandatanks in Dambulla and Ali Kopta Ara in Wellawaya have been opened as of yesterday. In addition spill gates of nine other medium scale reservoirs have also been opened according to the Director Irrigation Department H. M. P. S. D Hearath.

In another development, a senior official from the Department of Meteorology said the pre monsoonal condition and the Inter tropical convergence in the atmosphere near Sri Lanka has resulted in the increase in rainy conditions.

“Winds blowing from the Southern and Northern Hemispheres had met at a point 700 KM from Trincomalee. This is an area where there is a collection of clouds which contains moisture. This is the reason for the current rainy weather. Also the country is in a pre-monsoonal condition and that too had given rise to the current rainy weather. Signs of the Southwest monsoon are beginning show gradually. The Monsoon is expected to become active in a week or two,” Climatologist Department of Meteorology Malith Fernando told Daily Mirror.