The Department of Irrigation has issued warning to residents of several low-lying areas to be vigilant as water levels in a number of major rivers are rising due to heavy rains in many parts of the island.
Warnings have been issued to low-lying areas adjacent to the Kelaniya, Kalu, Gin, and Nilwala rivers and Attanagalu Oya.
Additionally, residents of low-lying areas of the Deduru Oya, Maha Oya, Benthara River and Kirama Oya river basins have been asked to remain vigilant.
Speaking to media, Director of the Hydrology and Disaster Management Division of the Irrigation Department, Engineer SPC Sugeeshwara urged residents and motorists commuting through these areas to remain vigilant for the next two days.
Sugeeshwara said low-lying areas of the Divulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalla, Gampaha, Ja-Ela, Katana and Wattala Divisional Secretariats of the Attanagalu and Uruwal Oya basins and Ruwanwella, Dehiowita, Seethawaka,Dompe, Kaduwela, Biyagama, Kolonnawa and Colombo Divisional Secretariats of the Kelaniya river basin will be affected.
Meanwhile, the Director said residents of Pelmadulla, Nivithigala, Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Elapatha, Ayagama, Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala, Dodangoda, Milleniya, Kalutara and Madurawela Divisional Secretariats of the Kalu river basin will also be affected.
Furthermore, Sugeeshwara noted residents of the Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama, Welipitiya, Baddegama and Thawalama Divisional Secretariats of the Gin river basin must remain vigilant of rising water levels.
He said the Kotapola, Pitabeddara, Akuressa, Athuraliya, Malimbada, Kamburupitiya, Thihagoda and Matara Divisional Secretariats of the Nilwala river will also be affected.
Sugeeshwara said area residents and motorists using low-lying areas of Nilwala and Gin river basins not protected by flood barriers must remain extremely cautious of rising water levels.
