• Over 31,000 people affected by adverse weather conditions 

The Department of Meteorology has warned of increased rainfall and strong winds across several parts of the country as the Southwest Monsoon gradually establishes over the island, with 31,072 individuals belonging to 7,983 families already affected by adverse weather conditions.

In the weather forecast issued for today (25), the Department of Meteorology stated that showers or thundershowers would occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North-Western provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya districts.

Fairly heavy rainfall of about 75 milimetres (mm) is expected at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts.

A few showers are also expected in the Anuradhapura and Mannar districts, while showers or thundershowers could occur in parts of the Uva Province and in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds of 30 to 40 kmph are expected at times over the western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-Central, North-Western, and Southern provinces, as well as in the Trincomalee District.

The public was advised to take precautions against temporary strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms. Meanwhile, landslide warnings issued by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) remain in effect from 6.00 a.m. yesterday (24) to 6.00 a.m. today for several areas.

The Level One (Yellow) landslide warnings covered Seethawaka and Padukka Divisional Secretariat (DS) Divisions in Colombo District; Attanagalla DS Division in Gampaha District; Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya, Horana, Mathugama, and Agalawatta DS Divisions in Kalutara District; Bulathkohupitiya DS Division in Kegalle District; Ambagamuwa DS Division in Nuwara Eliya District; and Kiriella, Nivithigala, Elapatha, Kalawana, and Pelmadulla DS Divisions in Ratnapura District.

Level Two (Amber) landslide warnings were issued for Dehiowita, Yatiyanthota, Deraniyagala, and Ruwanwella DS Divisions in Kegalle District, and Ayagama, Kuruwita, Eheliyagoda, and Ratnapura DS Divisions in Ratnapura District.

The Meteorology Department also warned that sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota would be rough at times.

Wind speeds in these sea areas could increase up to 50 to 60 kilometres per hour (kmph), while wave heights may rise between 2.0 and 2.5 metres.

Fishermen and naval communities were advised to remain vigilant due to the possibility of temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas during thunderstorms.

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), a total of 31,072 individuals belonging to 7,983 families have been affected by adverse weather conditions.

One death and one injury had been reported, while two houses were completely damaged and 859 houses had suffered partial damage.

A total of 1,724 persons from 446 families had been moved to 18 safe centres.

The affected districts include Ratnapura, Galle, Trincomalee, Kalutara, Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam, and Vavuniya.