EXTREME WEATHER: Several rivers reach minor flood levels

COLOMBO (News 1st): The water levels of Kalu, Kelani, Gin, Nilwala rivers, Attanagalu Oya and Maha-Oya are continuing to rise, the Department of Irrigation said on Friday morning (May 14). People residing by the riverbanks of the Kalu, Kelani, Gin, Nilawala rivers, Attanagalu-Oya and Maha-Oya must remain vigilant regarding the rising water levels, S.T.C. Sugeeshwara, the Chief Engineer at the Irrigation Department advised. "Especially, the low-lying areas of Nilwala river; low-lying areas of Gin river in Nagoda; low-lying areas of Kalu river in Thawalama, Bulathsinhala, Palinda Nuwara and Baduraliya; and low-lying areas of Maha-Oya in Giriulla have reached minor flood levels," S.T.C. Sugeeshwara elaborated. According to Sugeeshwara, given the heavy rainfall experienced in the South-Western parts of the island, the water levels of the rivers in the region have increased; "Upon analyzing the rate of rising river water levels, the Irrigation Department on Thursday (May 13) issued warnings regarding the possibility of minor floods," Sugeeshwara noted. "The low-lying areas of the Kelani river such as Kolonnawa, Biyagama, Malwana, and Colombo could also experience minor floods," S.T.C. Sugeeshwara, the Chief Engineer at the Irrigation Department noted. In the meantime, the Department of Meteorology has predicted that heavy rainfalls exceeding 100 mm are likely in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, and Southern provinces.