Severe storms and floods have wreaked havoc across Sri Lanka, displacing 276,550 people from 80,642 families in 141 Divisional Secretariat Divisions spanning 18 districts, according to the Disaster Management Center (DMC).
Addressing a media briefing at the Department of Information on November 27, Major General (Retd) Udaya Herath, Director General of the DMC, revealed that the adverse weather conditions have already claimed five lives, with six people reported missing.
Reservoirs Overflow and Flood Warnings Issued
The Director General of the Irrigation Department, Ajith Gunasekara, confirmed that 37 out of 73 main reservoirs under the department's management were overflowing as of yesterday evening. In response, flood warnings were issued for 12 major river basins, including:
- Malwathu Oya
- Kala Oya
- Mahaweli Ganga
- Maduru Oya
- Ma Oya
- Yan Oya
- Kanagarayan Aru and more
The Kelani River's water levels at Hanwella and Nagalagamveediya indicate minor flooding, posing risks for areas such as Seethawaka, Dompe, Kaduwela, Kolonnawa, and others.
Cyclone Intensifies in Bay of Bengal
Athula Karunanayake, Director of the Meteorological Department, warned of worsening conditions as a pressure system in the Bay of Bengal intensifies into a cyclone. This system is expected to hit Tamil Nadu, India on November 29-30, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Sri Lanka, especially in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, and North-Western provinces.
Red alerts have been issued, forecasting rainfall of 100-150 millimeters in districts such as Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, and Kilinochchi, along with winds reaching 60-70 km/h.
Impact on Agriculture
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne reported widespread devastation of agricultural lands, with 4,800 acres of paddy fields and numerous vegetable and fruit crops destroyed. The damage includes:
- Submerged radish, kohlrabi, and beetroot crops
- Severely damaged banana plantations
- Losses affecting over 2,000 paddy farmers and an additional 3,200 farmers
The government is evaluating losses and pledges to provide relief to affected farmers.
Relief Measures and Warnings
Authorities are actively monitoring the situation and coordinating relief efforts for displaced families. The public is urged to stay vigilant, particularly in flood-prone and cyclone-affected regions.
The ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for comprehensive disaster management strategies as Sri Lanka grapples with increasingly extreme weather patterns.
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