The Department of Irrigation issued a flood warning at 10.00 am on Friday for the Kuda Ganga sub-basin of the Kalu River, cautioning that minor flooding is possible in low-lying areas of the Kalutara district within 48 hours.
The advisory, valid until 10.00 am on Sunday, identifies two drivers: heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas and the opening of spill gates at the Kukule Ganga reservoir. Floodplains along the Kuda Ganga and Maguru Ganga are the principal risk zones, affecting the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Bulathsinhala, Madurawala and Palindanuwara.
Residents in those divisions and motorists travelling through flood-prone routes have been urged to remain vigilant. The department has not flagged any need for evacuations at this stage and the warning is rated as minor.
The advisory lands as the country sits under the southwest monsoon’s peak intensity window, with the Meteorological Department forecasting heavy showers across the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North Western provinces through the weekend. The National Building Research Organisation has separately maintained landslide warnings across four districts, reflecting saturation of upper-catchment soils that is feeding river inflows.
The flood window falls over the Vesak public holiday on Saturday, when authorities have already deployed an islandwide police security plan and registered more than 15,000 dansal across the country. Travellers heading to or through Kalutara have been advised to monitor irrigation department bulletins before setting out.
Sources: Newswire, Ada Derana.
