The Department of Irrigation said the Attanagalu Oya remained at a minor flood level in the Dunamale area on Saturday after a second day of heavy rainfall, with Hydrology Division Director L.S. Sooriayabandara urging residents along both banks to remain vigilant. Water levels on the Kalu Ganga and Kelani Ganga also continued to remain high. A separate minor flood warning was issued mid-morning for the Kalu River basin covering the next 24 hours, naming the Ingiriya, Horana, Dodangoda, Millaniya, Kalutara, Bulathsinhala, Madurawala and Palindanuwara Divisional Secretariat Divisions, Newswire reported.
The Department’s flood warning issued at 5.30am on Friday for the Aththanagalu Oya basin has been extended for the next 48 hours, to 6.00am on Monday May 25, the Island reported separately. Disaster Management Authorities have been asked to take additional precautions.
A section of the temporary bridge at Mellawagedara on the Negombo–Kotadeniyawa road has collapsed under the rains, according to NewsFirst — the first piece of infrastructure to be visibly lost in the current monsoon cycle.
The Gampaha District Disaster Management Centre said several stretches of the Gampaha–Ja-Ela road and the Gampaha–Ganemulla road have been inundated by the overflowing Attanagalu Oya. Sections of the Biyagama–Malwana road are also submerged.
Police reported that the Katunayake–Minuwangoda road is blocked in the Naikanda area, with motorists advised to use alternative routes. Vehicles travelling from Colombo via the highway through Katunayake towards the Kurunegala highway have been redirected via Ja-Ela and Minuwangoda.
The new operational disruptions extend the previous day’s monsoon escalation, when Pambegama recorded 336.5mm of rain in 24 hours, six aircraft were diverted from BIA to Mattala, and the Colombo–Avissawella road was submerged at Puwakpitiya-Thummodara, Seethawaka Botanical Garden and Yatiyantota. The two-day pattern now combines Met Department 100mm rainfall warnings and NBRO landslide alerts upgraded to red level for Dehiowita and Ratnapura into a multi-agency monsoon emergency in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces.
Sources: NewsFirst · The Island — Aththanagalu Oya warning extended · The Island — Torrential rains cause havoc countrywide · Newswire — Minor flood warning for Kalu River basin.
