Irrigation Department warns Kuda Ganga residents as Kelani, Nilwala and Gin rivers also rise

The Department of Irrigation has issued a cautionary warning to residents living along the Kuda Ganga — a tributary of the Kalu Ganga — after water levels rose sharply on Friday morning amid prevailing heavy rainfall.

Chief Engineer of the Hydrology and Disaster Management Division Chamara Yapa Arachchi urged residents on either side of the Kuda Ganga to remain alert, NewsFirst reported. Water levels in the Kelani, Nilwala and Gin rivers, as well as the Attanagalu Oya, are also on the rise, the engineer said.

The combined rise across the four main southwest-flowing river basins indicates a wider flood risk across the wet-zone districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Ratnapura.

The warning follows a National Building Research Organisation Yellow Warning issued earlier today for landslides in nine divisional secretariats across four districts, with six of the alerted DSDs sitting at the head of the Kalu River basin. Saturated slopes from the previous Ratnapura-Kegalle cluster — which produced a Red Warning fatality on May 23 — remain a concern.

The flooding has continued into the weekend. The Irrigation Department issued a further advisory on Saturday evening (June 13) warning of a possibility of minor flooding in low-lying areas of the Kuda Ganga sub-basin within the next 24 hours. By Sunday morning (June 14), the Kuda Ganga remained at minor flood level in the Millakanda area, with Bulathsinhala, Madurawala and Palindanuwara divisional secretariats still on alert, NewsFirst reported. The National Building Research Organisation also issued early landslide warnings for Kalutara, Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya districts as southwest monsoon rains continued.

The Kuda Ganga has been a recurring flashpoint in this monsoon cycle. The Irrigation Department issued a similar warning on May 29 when Kukule reservoir spill gates were opened, affecting Bulathsinhala, Madurawala and Palindanuwara divisional secretariats. Earlier monsoon waves shut the Avissawella road and forced flight diversions at BIA on May 22.

Sources: Residents Along Kuda Ganga Urged To Remain Vigilant As Water Levels Rise — NewsFirst, June 12; Minor flood warning issued for Kuda Ganga sub-basin of Kalu River — Ada Derana, June 13; Minor Flooding Continues Along Kuda Ganga — NewsFirst, June 14.