Severe thundershowers to continue : Flights diverted from BIA to Mattala

Colombo (News 1st): The Department of Meteorology says that thundershowers can be expected in Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, North Western and North Central Provinces until 11 tonight. Issuing an advisory, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Center says the general public should remain vigilant about the prevailing weather condition. Heavy rainfall was reported from catchment areas of the Castlereigh and Moussakelle reservoirs. A section of the Hatton-Colombo main road in Malliappu area was inundated due to heavy rains in Bogowanthalawa, Norwood, Maskeliya and Hatton. News 1st correspondent in the area noted vehicular movement was hampered for around half an hour. The Meteorology Department has forecast heavy rains of about 100mm in the Anuradhapura district tonight. Several flights scheduled to the Bandaranaike International Airport also had to be diverted to the Mattala Airport. SriLankan Airlines said its flights from Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur had to be diverted. It added, SriLankan Airlines flight UL140 from Madurai to Colombo, was diverted to the Madurai Airport in India. The Bandaranaike International Airport on its website announced that the flight from Doha to Colombo was also diverted to Mattala.