The death toll from Sri Lanka’s ongoing adverse weather rose to two as of May 15 morning, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) confirmed, with one fatality reported from the Batticaloa area. The DMC said 88 houses across seven districts have been partially damaged and 3,475 people from 1,113 families have been affected.
The Department of Meteorology issued a fresh red warning Friday for heavy rainfall above 150mm in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces, with showers exceeding 100mm also likely in Galle and Matara. The Met Department said the low-pressure area northeast of Sri Lanka is expected to move away within the next 36 hours.
Affected districts include Ratnapura, Galle, Monaragala, Batticaloa, Kalutara, Colombo and Puttalam, according to the DMC. The advisory updates the 37-reservoir spill warning issued the previous evening.
The Department of Irrigation said 21 major reservoirs and more than 19 medium-scale reservoirs under its management are currently spilling. The Irrigation Department also warned of minor flooding in low-lying areas of the Kuda Ganga sub-basin of the Kalu River, with roads in the Bulathsinhala, Madurawala and Palinda Nuwara Divisional Secretariat divisions vulnerable to inundation.
The latest figures supersede the 33-reservoirs-spilling tally recorded on May 13 and follow the Deduru Oya, Inginimitiya and Tabbowa spill-gate openings on May 14. Schools in the Hatton Education Zone remained closed for a second day on May 15.
The public has been advised to take precautions against lightning, strong winds and rising waters. Disaster Management authorities have been requested to maintain heightened vigilance during the final stretch of the system.
