Minor flash floods with the advent of Southwest Monsoon

By Yohan Perera and Dharshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Minor flash flooding was reported in the Galle and Badulla Districts as the Southwest Monsoon moves towards Sri Lanka .
Our correspondents reported that some by roads which leads to Karapitiya were flooded while some low lands also suffered the same fate. Some roads in Badulla were also blocked due to adverse weather conditions   
The Director Irrigation P.M.P. S.D. Herath said some 73 tanks and reservoirs in the country have currently reached spill level. The Rajangana, Ambewela,Sorabora, Wemeddilla, Lunugamwehera, Tissa Wewa, Weerawila, Yoda Wewa, Deduru Oya and Alikota Ara are some of the tanks and reservoirs had reached spill level as of last evening.  
Herath warned that those living in low lying areas should be mindful as the situation could change depending on the rain.   
Meanwhile the Department of Meteorology said rainy weather conditions could prevail for some time. The Department said a low pressure area is developing in the atmosphere. The Director General Department of Meteorology earlier said Sri Lanka is expected to move into the Southwest Monsoon by Mid May. 

Department of Meteorology Climatologist Merril Fernando said the current weather pattern is a “pre-monsoon” condition rather than the formal monsoon itself. However, with the development of the low-pressure zone, the Southwest Monsoon is expected to fully establish itself by mid-May , bringing significant weather changes to the island.  
In another development National Building Research Organisation issued landslide warnings to Moneragala and Badula Districts. Heavy falls above 100 mm were likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva, North-western and Northern provinces and in the Anuradhapura districts according to the Department.   
Additional reports from Kushan Jayawardena, Dayaratne Embogama, Prasad Rukmal and D.G. Sugathapala.