Floods: Met. Department Office in Puttalam not spared

By Yohan Perera Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Jayaratne Wickramarachchi Prasad Rukmal   

The district office of the Department of Meteorology in  Puttalam and a few other government offices were inundated due to minor  floods in the area, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday.   

The DIG office, the office of Archaeological Department and  the teacher training centre were also underwater. It was reported that the work of these offices has come to a standstill. Schools in the district has been closed today as well due to the prevailing situation.

In addition, Puttalam-Kurunegala Road went underwater near  the 3rd mile post while Mahakumbukkadawala, Andigama Road, Andigama  Madurankuliya Road and Puttalam-Colombo Road have gone underwater.   

Some 33493 persons belonging to 8974 families have been affected in Puttalam District according to DMC.  

Flood threat prevailed in number of other areas as well  with spill gates of some reservoirs were opened. Spill gates have been  opened in a number of reservoirs. Two spill gates of Rajanganya, two of  Angamuwa tank, five gates of Ulhitiya and one in Kukuleganga reservoir  have been opened. Eight spill gates of Thabbowa reservoir were also  opened as of last evening  

An earthslip in Haputale had damaged three houses but the residents have managed to escape unhurt.  

Heavy showers were reported in many areas yesterday with  Horana receiving a rainfall of 107mm, 103.5mm in Kalawana and Palawela  in Ratnapura District. Thaligama in Kegalle received a rainfall of  99.5mm, Ingiriya received rainfall of 98.7mm,  Alawela in Gampaha 82mm,  Kotahena in Colombo district 88.5mm, Elpitiya in Galle 74mm while  Dambadeniya in Kurunegala had received a rainfall of 74mm.  Meanwhile Department of Meteorology said heavy rains and  strong winds will prevail in the country as the Southwest monsoon is  becoming active fast. Rains exceeding 100mm are expected in Western,  Sabaragamuwa, North Western provinces, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara  Eliya and Mannar Districts during the coming days. The sea areas  extending from Beruwala to Pottuvil via Galle and Hambantota will be  very rough at times with strong gusty winds which could travel at 60  kmph. The sea areas extending from Kalpitiya to Beruwala via Colombo was  also expected to be rough at times with strong gusty winds going up to  55 kmph.