Colombo, Oct. 27 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lankans woke up to stormy weather yesterday after a bout of rainfall experienced overnight, and experienced flash floods, water-logged areas and tree falls.
Cyclonic storm 'Arnab' triggered heavy rainfall that lashed 12 districts of the country, prompting the authorities concerned to close schools today. A dozen people died in weather-related incidents by yesterday since September 22, 2026.
The Meteorology Department forecast heavy rain with high intensity for the coming few days, particularly in northern, eastern, southern and south-western parts of Sri Lanka.
Climatologist Malith Fernando said, “Rains will continue for at least two more days. However, he said the weather conditions in Sri Lanka will improve once Cyclone 'Arnab' comes over the land space of India. It is expected to enter India from Andhra Pradesh by Thursday.
“However, 'Arnab' will not cause havoc as much as Ditwah as it will only have an indirect impact on Sri Lanka,” he said.
Disaster Management Centre (DMC), in its update issued after 6.00 pm yesterday, said that 10,545 people belonging to 2,826 families from 21 districts had been affected by adverse weather.
One person in Chilaw has disappeared after falling into a stream formed after rain, according to the DMC
The water levels of Kehelgamu Oya swelled, resulting in a flood threat in Bogawantalawa area by yesterday morning. Police said the low-lying area of Bogawantalawa had been inundated.
Several houses had been submerged owing to the flow of stormwater from Kotiyagala estate. Similar flood threats were experienced in Hatton town. It disrupted civilian life in the town.
The Department of Irrigation said 17 major reservoirs were spilling over. These included Tissa Wewa, and Yoda Wewa in Hambantota, Deduru Oya in Kurunegala, Rajangana Wewa and Yan Oya in Anuradhapura. In addition, spill gates of 13 medium-sized tanks were opened.
Landslide warnings were issued for 11 districts where people in Seethawaka, Padukka, Divisional Secretariats in Colombo, Thawalama, Neluwa, Niyagama, Elpitiya, Karandeniya Secretariats in Colombo, Galle were asked to be vigilant as rains exceeded 75mm while those in Attanagalla, Divisional Secretariat in Gampaha, Pasbage Korale, Udunuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale Udapalatha, Yatinuwara Divisional Secretariats in Kandy, Kegalle, Mawanella, Ruwanwella, Rambukkana and Galigamuwa Secretariats in Kegalle, Kurunegala Divisional Secretariat were asked to be prepared to evacuate as rains exceeded 100mm. People in Bulathsingala, Ambagamuwa, Norwood in Nuwara Eliya, and Kuruwita, Elapatha, Ayagama, Opanayake, Pelmadulla were asked to evacuate.
Galle, Kalutara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya Districts. People in the Divisional Secretariats of Ratnapura, Ayagama, Pelmadulla, Kuruwita, Elapatha and Opanayake were asked to evacuate because of landslide threats.
Civilian life in several areas in the hill country has been disrupted owing to the heavy rain, strong winds and intermittent mist experienced at present in the western slopes of the central hills.
Police said Hatton-Nuwara Eliya and Hatton-Colombo main highways were endangered with earth slips at several locations. They warned the drivers to be cautious when passing through the endangered areas where the roads were slippery with muddy water.
Meanwhile, Gerandi Ella falls in Kotmale swelled owing to the prevailing heavy rain with a torrent of water flowing across Nuwara Eliya- Gampola highway disrupting traffic last morning. OIC Kotmale Police IP Indika Lalith said traffic ground to a halt for hours creating a heavy traffic jam until the floods subsided.
Ratnapura area was facing a minor flood situation with Kaluganga, Kuru Ganga and several tributaries reaching overflow level by yesterday afternoon.
District Secretary M.G.Lalith Ananda said the water level in Kaluganga had reached 7.800 metres, exceeding the minor flood threat level of 7.5 metres. He said Wey Ganga had risen by 3.35 metres in four hours and Kuru Ganga by 5.0metres. He said the tributaries of Kalu Ganga, including Wey Ganga, Kuru Ganga, Nirieli Ganga, and Denawaka Ganga were rising fast and that several low-lying areas had gone underwater.
The highest rainfall recorded as of early last morning which is 163mm was recorded from Kilinochchi, while 148mm of rain was reported from Mannar, Jaffna recorded a rainfall of 110mm, Kegalle 109mm, Kalutara recorded a rainfall of 93mm.
Additional reports by Ranjith Rajapakse, Ajithlal Shanthaudaya and Prince Ratnayaka