COLOMBO, Dec 1 (NNN-LNW) – Sri Lanka’s Irrigation Department, yesterday said, recent adverse weather has not damaged any major reservoir under its authority, even as flooding continues in surrounding areas.
Director General of the Irrigation Department, Ajith Gunasekara, said, engineers had opened spill gates across all major reservoirs as rainfall intensified, causing downstream areas to flood.
Resulting floods are being closely monitored, said Gunasekara, adding that, three main reservoirs, namely the Minneriya, Kaudulla, and Deduru Oya reservoirs, continue to spill, but floods in those regions are expected to gradually recede starting this afternoon.
He also noted that, the severe flood threat in Colombo had “somewhat reduced,” although elevated water levels are likely to persist for the next 24 hours. He added that, water levels in other rivers are also projected to reduce from today.
Sri Lanka has been adversely affected by Cyclone Ditwah in recent days. The country’s Disaster Management Centre, said yesterday that, 212 people have died and close to a million have been affected by the adverse weather.– NNN-LNW