Early landslide warnings have been issued to residents of multiple areas in seven districts as heavy rainfall continues in parts of the island.

Issuing the landslide warning, the National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO) said that a Level 1 (Yellow) warning was issued for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSD) and surrounding areas in the Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle and Ratnapura Districts.

In the Colombo District, warnings were issued for the Padukka DSD and surrounding areas, while in the Galle District, warnings were issued for the Elpitiya DSD and surrounding areas. In the Kalutara District, warnings were issued for the Walallawita, Matugama, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara and Agalawatta DSDs and surrounding areas. With regard to the Kandy District, the Ganga Ihala Korale DSD and surrounding areas were issued warnings. In addition, in the Nuwara Eliya District, the Ambagamuwa DSD and surrounding areas, and in the Kegalle District, the Deraniyagala, Dehiowita and Yatiyantota DSDs and surrounding areas were issued warnings. In the Ratnapura District, warnings were issued for the Eheliyagoda, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Elapatha DSDs and surrounding areas.

In addition, in an update notice, the NBRO has issued level-2 landslide warnings to residents of the Ratnapura and Ayagama DSDs and surrounding areas in the Ratnapura District.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology has issued a ‘Red’ warning for strong winds and rough seas. Due to the effect of the active southwest monsoon condition, the sea areas off the coast extending Puttalam to Mullaitivu via Mannar and Kankesanthurai will be very rough at times, the department warned.

Accordingly, the naval and fishing communities have been advised not to venture into these sea areas, until further notice. The naval and fishing communities have also been requested to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the department in this regard.