Inclement weather affects 6,250 families countrywide

By Ifham Nizam

About 25,863 people belonging to 6,250 families had been badly affected by the prevailing inclement weather, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday.

The Irrigation Department said that minor floods had been forecast as the Gin and Nilwala Rivers were expected to burst their banks in several areas. Residents of Akuressa, Malimbada, Athuraliya, Kamburupitiya, and Thihagoda have been warned to remain vigilant.

Deputy Director Irrigation Eng. S.P.C. Sugeeshwara said that minor floods could be expected in areas surrounding Attanagalu Oya and the Kalu River. The Meteorological Department yesterday said that the showery conditions in the South West will intensify in the next few days. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and North-western provinces and in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. Fairly heavy showers, above 75mm, can be expected at some places in the Western,

Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces. Akuressa, in Matara, experienced the highest rainfall of 69.5 mm during the window between 08:30 am on Monday (02) to 05:30 am on Tuesday (03).

The landslide warnings issued to eight districts remain in effect as well.These include several divisional secretariat divisions in Colombo, Galle, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura.