Northeast Monsoon brings flood threats

By Yohan Perera and Nimal Jayaratne  

The Northeast Monsoon which is currently active is posing a threat of minor floods in some areas of Sri Lanka including the lowlying areas around Malwathu Oya, Director Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Pradeep Koddipily said yesterday.  

“ Considerable rains in upstream areas have caused this situation. People in Madhu, Mussalai, and Vengalacheddikulam area will have to be vigilant ,” he told media.   

Landslide warnings have been issued to few districts including Nuwara-Eliya, Matale, Kandy, Badulla and Kurunegala.   

Four out of ten spill gates of Parakarama Samudra were opened as the water levels reached spill level.   

Heavy rains have been reported from some areas in the North and the East with Mullaitivu experiencing a rainfall of 188 mm.  Climatologist  Department of Metrology Malith Fernando said the current pattern of rain is likely to break after January 20th.