Severe rainfall pounding Sri Lanka has triggered widespread flooding across Galle, Colombo and Kandy as the Irrigation Department warns that the Kalu and Gin rivers are rising steadily.
Kesbewa in Piliyandala recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall to 6:30am Wednesday at 204mm, followed by Veyangoda (145.5mm), Gilimale (121mm) and Gampaha (105.2mm). Divithura and Bandaragama each recorded over 100mm.
The Disaster Management Centre has issued landslide warnings for 11 districts effective until 9am Thursday. Amber-level (Alert) warnings cover areas in Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy and Ratnapura districts. Yellow-level (Watch) warnings extend to Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya.
In Galle, heavy downpours in Neluwa, Thawalama and Hiniduma caused the Mali Ela in Mapalagama to overflow. Low-lying areas in Ambalangoda, Batapola and Baddegama are also under water. In Colombo and its suburbs, intermittent thundershowers since early morning caused localised flooding, particularly on the road near the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council. Kandy has experienced heavy rain since morning, disrupting daily life for residents and commuters.
The Irrigation Department has confirmed 16 major reservoirs and 17 medium-scale reservoirs have reached capacity and are discharging excess water — feeding directly into the rising Kalu and Gin systems that drain through Galle and Kalutara districts.
One weather-related death has been reported in Batticaloa, with 203 people across Ratnapura, Galle, Monaragala and Batticaloa districts severely affected.
The combination of saturated catchments, full reservoirs and continuing rainfall has produced an amber rain advisory earlier on Wednesday and added pressure to the 33 reservoirs already spilling.
