• rainy weather expected to last till next week
• NBRO puts Ella, Badulla and Seethawaka DSD’s on Amber Alert for landslides
• Coastal fishing and naval activity warned of risk

Due to pre-monsoonal conditions over the country and surrounding sea areas, prevailing showery and windy conditions are expected to enhance further during the next few days, the Meteorology Department said yesterday (19).

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (19), Duty Meteorologist Nimal Bandara said that the ‘Red’ alert warning of heavy rains issued for certain areas such as Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North Western provinces and for Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, and Mannar districts would be extended until today (20). He also said that this weather condition is expected to prevail until 25–26 May.

According to the Department of Meteorology, very heavy showers above 150 mm are likely at some places in Western and North-western provinces, while heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, and Mannar districts.

Meanwhile, the National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO) issued early landslide warnings for several localities in four districts on Saturday, May 18, to be in effect until 4 p.m. today (20) but they had forecasted that the warnings would be extended if this rainy condition prevailed further.

Accordingly, a Level 2 (Amber) alert was issued for the Ella Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD) and surrounding areas in Badulla District and Seethawaka DSD in Colombo District while Level 1 (Yellow) alerts have been issued for the Hali Ela, Badulla, Haputale, and Haldummulla DSDs in the same. Level 1 alert has been issued for Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, and Yatinuwara DSDs in Kandy District; Bulathkohupitiya, Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Warakapola, Ytiyanthota, Mawanella, and Galigamuwa DSDs in Kegalle District; andImbulpe, Balangoda, Elapatha, Kalawana, Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Ayagama, Ratnapura, and Kuruwita DSDs in Ratnapura District. 

Later, Yesterday evening, the NBRO also issued Level 1 alert for Agalawatta, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara and Walallawita DSDs in Kalutara District,

Attanagalla DSD in Gampaha District and Elpitiya DSD and surrounding areas in Galle District.

In addition, the small fishing boats along the coasts of Mannar to Colombo via Galle, Hambantota to Potuvil, and Ampara are advised not to venture out to sea from noon today until further notice. The advisory was issued by the Director of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources due to the prevailing inclement weather conditions.

However, Ella-Wellawaya and Ella-Passara roads, which had been completely closed due to the prevailing weather conditions, were reopened for public use yesterday.