• Heavy showers of over 100 mm expected in coming days

Twelve people have died, 25 have been injured and one is missing after floods, heavy rain, landslides and strong winds affected 10,311 people from 2,826 families between 18 September and 26 October, with more heavy rain forecast.

During the period, 28 houses were completely damaged and 1,807 partially damaged, along with six small and medium-sized enterprises and 23 critical infrastructure facilities. Three safety centres are sheltering 67 people from 23 families.

The affected areas cover 206 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 22 districts: Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matara, Hambantota, Galle, Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Vavuniya, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Kilinochchi.

In a forecast issued at 4 p.m. yesterday (25), the Department of Meteorology said a depression over the Bay of Bengal had intensified into a deep depression. It is very likely to become a cyclonic storm by this morning (26) and a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by tomorrow (27) morning.

Although the system is not expected to directly affect Sri Lanka, its associated wind flow is likely to increase rainfall in the south-western parts of the island in the coming days.

Showers or thundershowers are forecast in the Northern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-Western and Central Provinces and the Anuradhapura District, with falls above 100 mm possible in places. Showers are also expected in the Uva Province and the Ampara and Batticaloa Districts after 1 p.m.

Winds of 40–50 kmph are expected at times over the western slopes of the Central Hills, the Northern, North-Central and North-Western Provinces, and the Trincomalee and Hambantota Districts. The public has been advised to take precautions against strong winds and lightning.

The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has advised naval and fishing communities not to venture into the deep seas of the Bay of Bengal between 10°N–20°N and 80°E–95°E until further notice. Those already there have been told to move to safer locations.

The National Building Research Institute (NBRI) said several landslide-prone areas could become active with heavy rain. NBRI Senior Scientist Wasantha Senadheera told The Daily Morning that rainfall in these areas had dropped in recent days. “If the rainfall thresholds for these areas are exceeded, we will immediately issue warnings,” he said.

Disaster Management Centre Media Spokesperson Pradeep Kodippili said that although no direct impact was expected beyond heavy rain, pre-disaster warning systems were being activated in all 25 districts. Teams and equipment, including boats, are ready in disaster-prone areas.