A minor flood situation has been reported in the Nilwala Ganga at Panadugama, while the Udawalawe reservoir opened two further spill gates on Sunday as water levels continued to rise across the island’s southern basins.
The Irrigation Department’s islandwide water level and rainfall report, issued at 6.30 a.m. on Sunday (8), recorded the Nilwala Ganga at Panadugama at 6.05 metres — above its minor flood level of 6.00 metres — and still rising, the Daily Mirror reported.
Four other locations were at alert level:
- Kuda Ganga at Kalawellawa (Millakanda): 5.14 m, rising
- Maguru Ganga at Magura: 4.31 m, falling
- Walawe Ganga at Moraketiya: 3.70 m, falling
- Attanagalu Oya at Dunamale: 3.75 m, falling
The department said the Kelani, Kalu, Gin, Kirindi, Menik, Kumbukkan, Heda, Maduru, Mahaweli, Yan, Maa, Malwathu, Mee, Deduru and Maha Oya basins were all within normal levels at the time of the report.
Rainfall totals
Over the preceding 21 hours, Thawalama in the Gin Ganga basin recorded the highest total at 80.8 mm, followed by Ratnapura in the Kalu Ganga basin at 79.2 mm, Glencourse in the Kelani basin at 72.9 mm and Pitabeddara in the Nilwala basin at 72.5 mm.
Udawalawe discharge came after the morning reading
Separately, Hiru News reported that two more spill gates at the Udawalawe reservoir were opened as the water level rose steadily, according to engineers in charge of the reservoir. Three gates are now open by one foot each, releasing about 6,921 cubic feet per second into the Walawe Ganga.
Residents living along both banks of the Walawe Ganga below the reservoir have been told to watch the river level closely.
The timing matters for reading the two reports together. The Irrigation Department’s “falling” reading for the Walawe Ganga at Moraketiya was taken at 6.30 a.m.; Hiru’s report on the additional gates was filed later in the morning. The alert-level figure therefore predates the increased discharge and should not be taken as the current state of that river.
Context
The Irrigation Department urged people in flood-prone areas to stay alert and follow instructions from the relevant authorities.
On Saturday, eight gates at the Deduru Oya reservoir were opened with about 4,100 cusecs released. Sunday’s report lists the Deduru basin among those back within normal levels.
The rainfall follows the flash flooding that hit Colombo on Friday, when the Meteorology Department recorded more than 100 mm in under an hour against drainage designed for far less.
