• Met Dept and NBRI warn of floods and landslides 
• Public urged to evacuate if rains are heavy, even before notices are issued 
• 4,576 disaster relief centres established island-wide 

Widespread rainfall is expected across Sri Lanka within the next 10 days, according to the Meteorology Department, which has warned of the possibility of heavy rain, landslides and flooding. 

Speaking at a special media conference yesterday (16), the Director General of the Department Ajith Wijemannage said that the authorities should remain prepared for deteriorating weather conditions as the country enters a period of increased rainfall. He said that preparations are already underway to address the effects of the prevailing El Niño conditions, but that further measures should be taken in response to forecasts of heavy rainfall and associated hazards. 

Heavy rainfall is expected during next month (October) and November, Wijemannage said, adding that flooding and landslides could occur during this period. He explained that atmospheric disturbances frequently develop around the Bay of Bengal during October and November and that these conditions could intensify under the influence of El Niño. 

Wijemannage also urged the general public and relevant authorities to remain vigilant, noting that increased rainfall is also expected in the North-Eastern parts of the island during December. Meanwhile, average rainfall is forecast for the Northern and Eastern Provinces. However, he said that certain Indian Ocean Dipole conditions could potentially lead to flooding in those areas. 

During February, March and April of next year (2027), Wijemannage said that higher temperatures and relatively lower rainfall are expected.

He stressed the importance of properly managing the rainfall received across the country over the coming months in preparation for changing weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Institute (NBRI) has warned of an increased risk of landslides in several areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah, following continued heavy rainfall. Senior Geologist at the NBRI, Dr Wasantha Senadeera said yesterday that early warning signs of possible landslides had been observed in several locations due to the heavy rainfall experienced over the past few days. 

He said that particular attention is required in areas where soil and rocks had moved following the impact of Ditwah but where landslides had not yet occurred, as further heavy rainfall could trigger landslides in those locations. Dr Senadeera also warned that the heavy rainfall forecast for the coming days could further increase the risk of landslides in vulnerable areas. 

According to the NBRI, more than 30,000 families are currently considered to be at high risk due to landslide hazards. Dr Senadeera said that approximately 15,000 families had been identified as being at high risk over the past 15 years, while a programme is currently underway to resettle around 5,000 of them. However, following Ditwah, a further 16,793 high-risk families have been identified, he said, adding that the figure could rise as assessments and the monitoring of the affected areas are still ongoing. He said that the situation demonstrated the severity of the impact caused by the cyclone and urged residents in areas receiving heavy rainfall to move to safer locations without delay. 

He also warned the general public against entering landslide-prone areas to observe landslides, stressing that even locations previously considered safe may have become vulnerable following the cyclone. Dr Senadeera further urged the general public to rely only on official information issued by Government institutions and not to act on unverified information circulated through social media. “Those living in areas experiencing heavy rainfall should move to safe locations and take necessary steps to protect their lives. We are facing a situation that has not been experienced before, and the public must remain vigilant and follow official warnings,” he said.

The NBRI cautioned the public to take extra precautions during the upcoming rains, as heavy rainfall could reactivate mountains that were activated during Ditwah but did not result in landslides. Dr Senadeera said that people in the Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Badulla Districts should be particularly cautious. 

“There are many places in these areas that were activated during Ditwah, but landslides did not occur. Yet, there is a risk of them being activated again. The attention of the general public is mandatory regarding these places,” he said. “There are some places where the soil and rocks of these mountains have come down two to three kilometres and stayed there. If we get heavy rains again, there is a possibility that these rocks might come down again,” he said. 

He added that, out of some of these mountains, early signs of possible landslides could also be identified. He said that seven people died in an incident in Aranayaka due to these activated areas, with five of the victims having gone to see the affected locations. He cautioned the public against engaging in such risky activities. 

Dr Senadeera further said that investigations into houses damaged by Ditwah and risky areas have not yet been finalised. “We are still engaging in observations and investigations of the Ditwah-hit places,” he said. “For the last 15 years, we have identified more than 15,000 houses as being at high risk, and 5,000 of them are being resettled as part of a Government programme. But, with Ditwah, 16,793 families have been identified, bringing the number of families identified as being at high risk to more than 30,000 by now,” he said. 

He said that this figure would increase further as investigations and observations have not yet been completed. He added that the details of these families have been provided to the Local Authorities, and that necessary action to safeguard them during the upcoming rains is in progress. He added that there are other families living in unauthorised houses or houses for which Local Authorities do not have details. 

He further cautioned that Department data is based on spatial data, making it necessary for the public to remain aware of their surroundings and immediately move to safe places if they feel that rainfall is too heavy, even if they are not given notices. He said that another challenge is that, following Ditwah, even places previously identified as safe have now been identified as unsafe. He advised the public to follow notices issued by the Department and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), rely only on information provided by officials, and avoid being misled by fake news on social media.

Speaking at the same meeting, the National Disaster Relief Centre spokesperson Prageeth Danansooriya said that 4,576 disaster relief centres had been established across all 25 Districts by now to facilitate the public in the event of a disaster. He urged the public to follow DMC notices, evacuate if they are in unsafe areas, and safeguard their lives.