Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology has issued an Amber-level advisory for heavy rain in eight districts, warning of showers and thundershowers exceeding 100mm in some locations.
The advisory was issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 2.00am on Friday and remains valid until 2.00am on Saturday, 23 May.
The warning covers the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces, together with the Galle district. Affected areas include Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Puttalam and Galle.
Heavy rainfall above 100mm is likely at some locations within the affected districts, the advisory said. The public has been urged to take adequate precautions against flooding, strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.
The Amber warning is the second-highest tier in the country’s colour-coded weather alert system. Rainfall of 100mm or more in 24 hours typically triggers flash flooding in low-lying parts of Colombo, Kalutara and Ratnapura, and raises landslide risk in the central hills and Sabaragamuwa.
The advisory follows the onset of the south-west monsoon earlier this week, which has brought sustained showery conditions to the south-western quarter of the island. Pre-monsoon flood control measures were discussed at a recent meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, focusing on Kelani River basin defences and the Beira Lake restoration.
Residents in vulnerable areas have been asked to monitor official Department of Meteorology and Disaster Management Centre channels for updates and to follow evacuation guidance where issued.
